The 21-strong team will be based at the Australian Institute of Sport from Friday to Sunday.

The Swimming Australia team-based competition sees athletes go head-to-head in individual and relay events to score points for their states.

The team’s head coach, Andrew Goetz, of Launceston, said the event is a great opportunity for Tasmanian swimmers.

“Team short course is fantastic for national-level swimmers to compete against others at their level,” he said.

“They are the ones who are winning most of our medals at state competitions. They go to nationals and get the next level to aim for, against the best from interstate.”

It is the first time that Goetz, head coach with the Launceston Aquatic Club, has coached a state team.

Many of the swimmers have a busy program in Canberra, one of the advantages of being from a smaller state according to Goetz. “It is good that they get to swim lots of events, and not just in their best events.”

The team includes nine swimmers from Hobart Aquatic Club (HA), four each from HC and Riverside (RA), two from Launceston Aquatic (LA) and one each from South Esk (SE) and Cradle Coast (CC).

The Tasmanian team pictured is junior coach Julie Sladden, Max Powell (HC), 14, James Belstead (HA), 17, Mackenzie French (LA), 13, Jackson Devine (HA), 14, Taylor Raine (SE), 13, Catherine Chung (HC), 15, Tom Sladden (RA), 14, William Bonney (RA), 15, Elly Muller (HA), 14, Stefanie McCarthy (HA), 13, Jack Sladden (RA), 16, Max O'Leary (CC), 17, Emma Condie (HC), 16, Amelie McCarthy (HA), 16, Michael Boult (HC), 17, Dawson Howell (LA), 15, Kate Denholm (HA), 16, Sophie Botterill-James (HA), 14, head coach Andrew Goetz, Mollie Bailey (HA), 14, team manager (males) Stuart James, and coach Paul Crosswell. Absent: swimmers Emily Lonergan (RA) and Campbell Lane (HA), both 15; and physio/team manager (females) Sally McLaine.