A press release from AA on June 13 named the Australian men's 4x400m relay team for London as ``Brendan Cole (ACT), Joel Milburn (NSW), Ben Offereins (WA), Steven Solomon (NSW), John Steffensen (NSW), Tristan Thomas (Tas)''.

However, when that same press release appeared in the archives on AA's website it listed the team as: ``Joel Milburn (NSW), Ben Offereins (WA), Steven Solomon (NSW), John Steffensen (NSW)''.

Both AA media adviser Cody Lynch and high performance manager Eric Hollingsworth said yesterday that the alteration made no difference to Thomas's chances to run the relay.

``Tristan and Brendan will be considered but were not officially named in the team for that event, which is why it has been taken off the website,'' Lynch said.

``We were asked by the selection committee to take them off that list. From Tristan's perspective nothing has changed, it's just from a nomination point of view.''

On a visit to Launceston yesterday, Hollingsworth said: ``That was an administrative error in terms of the way the press release was put out.''

He said Thomas understood the situation and could still run in the relay team if his form merited it.

``It's a normal process in the team protocol that you name your 400m runners and then you see what happens when you get over there, who's in form and work the team from there.

``He's in the team and I can utilise anybody in the team I want for the 4x4. He could still run, absolutely.''

Thomas, a 26-year-old Sandy Bay Harrier who has also qualified for the Olympics as an individual 400m hurdler, was a member of the 4x400 team that recorded the two required qualification times to book Australia's spot and won a bronze medal in the event at the 2009 world championships in Berlin.

Thomas told The Examiner yesterday: ``As I've stated previously running the 4x400 is very special to me but with 38 days to go before London begins I really wish we'd all focus back on the positives.

``It's a huge team, probably our most talented ever and for me, that's what I want to think about on the training track.

``I'll give my all to both forms of preparation and to be honest, when standing with the likes of Sally Pearson and co, I just want to do my part for the team, in whatever opportunity I'm given.''

Hollingsworth paid a glowing tribute to Thomas's potential in the hurdles and revealed he has long been on the national radar for London.

``I think he's finding form,'' Hollingsworth said.

``He's done two solid races of 49-something (seconds) and that's good form. The aim is he's got to be down to 48.5 for us to hope he will make the Olympic final.

``That is a goal I had set for Tristan two or three years ago and I'm hoping he can fulfil that potential and become an Olympic finalist.

``He's on my calculations for scoring points for Australia.

``In the IAAF tables you score points between one and eight and that helps us go up the ladder and certainly Tristan was one of those that I calculated would bring us a point or two if he makes the final.

``He's a talented boy, just a little bit unfortunate with injuries, but he has broken 49 seconds, which is the world mark in my opinion for 400m hurdles.

``If you do that on a regular basis you're going to be not too far from the final and he's got that X-factor down the last 100m if he's in contention. He's a very strong, determined character and knows how to finish a race.''