A 17-person Australian team features an impressive four Tasmanians, with Watkins rated the best chance of a medal in the men’s under-23 events which launch proceedings.

The 19-year-old, who impressed at recent selection trials to secure a place on the senior team, will line up alongside West Australian Ben Pope in the K1 and C1, and Victorian Tim Anderson in the K1 events.

Following a successful training block in Sydney and Hobart, Watkins is optimistic of his chances.

‘‘I am definitely hoping to push for a final, but I will evaluate the competition once I am there and see what I need to do to get a medal,’’ he said.

‘‘There is no point going if you do not want to win so that is what I will be aiming to do and I am hoping it is pretty feasible.’’

Hobart’s Derwent Canoe Club will also be represented with junior paddlers Rohan Borojevic, Jake Hodkinson and Eckhardt joining Watkins on the team.

‘‘All of us four as doing every training session together makes it a lot more fun and high quality watching everyone paddle and seeing how everyone is improving,’’ Watkins said.

Fellow Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder Eckhardt leads an impressive junior Australian squad after winning silver in the K1 junior worlds final last year.

She will be joined by Noemie Fox, of New South Wales, to double up in the C1W and K1W events.

Making his debut will be Hodkinson who will contest the junior K1M event alongside 2014 finalist Angus Thompson, of NSW, and Victorian Tristan Carter while Borojevic will join Carter in the junior C1M field.

‘‘It is really hard as I have not been on that world stage yet so I do not really know where I am ranked but I would like to make the semis at least,’’ Hodkinson said.

The finals will be contested at the weekend.