US Olympian Gwen Jorgensen will compete in the Devonport Triathlon on Saturday.
The 26-year-old from Wisconsin has established a reputation as one of the fastest runners in the sport since bursting onto the triathlon scene two years ago.
She is expected to be involved in a head-to-head battle for the elite women's prize with Queensland's Ashleigh Gentle who will be attempting to go one better than last year.
Jorgensen didn't become involved in triathlons until 2010 but quickly made her presence felt.
She won a silver medal at the world university triathlon championships in Spain which earned her the USA triathlon's rookie of the year.
In London in 2011 she finished second in the world championship series triathlon and was elevated to the US team for the Olympic Games 12 months later.
Since the Olympic Games Jorgensen has based herself in Australia where she is under the guidance of high performance coach Jamie Turner at Wollongong.
This will be her first appearance in the Devonport Triathlon.
Saturday's race has taken on extra significance as it will also be the Oceania sprint distance championship and will carry extra qualifying points for the world championships in London later this year.
Two national titles will be decided at Devonport with the Australian age group distance championship and the Australian ITU junior triathlon championship up for grabs.
Both races will be selection events for the world titles which will also be held in London.
In the elite men's race, Brendan Sexton will return to try and make it two in a row.
The 27-year-old from Melbourne earned selection for the Olympic Games after winning last year and is favoured to win again although he can expect some tough opposition from rising star Aaron Royle and Launceston's Dylan Evans.
Royle is a training partner with Jorgensen in the Turner camp at Wollongong.
Young Launceston triathlete Jacob Birthwhistle could earn a trip to London if he wins the junior championship.
Birthwhistle has been making an impression with some of his recent performances against older opposition and he will be advantaged by the Devonport course on Saturday.
This will be the second triathlon held on the purpose-built course at the Mersey Bluff and the action will get underway on Friday with a TriKids school challenge which starts at 10am.
Sexton and Jorgensen are expected to give a coaching clinic when the junior race is over.
START TIMES - SATURDAY
8am: Australian Age Group Triathlon Championships; 11.30am: ITU Junior Women; 12.45pm: ITU Junior Men; 2.15pm: Elite and Under 23 Women; 3.30pm: Elite and Under 23 Men; 5pm: Presentations (Devonport Surf Life Saving Club); 6pm: Post race celebrations (Devonport Surf Life Saving Club).