Launceston shooter Bailey Groves will begin his charge towards Olympic qualification in Brisbane this weekend.
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The 2019 Oceania gold medallist will compete in the 10m air pistol and 25m rapid fire disciplines in the first of three nomination events before the national team is announced late next month.
Sitting out for a month late last year before returning to full-time training on January 1, the 22-year-old is happy with his form leading into one of the biggest months of his career to date.
"I feel good - I feel like I've done everything I can," Groves said.
"I'm not going to go and expect anything more than I'm capable of, I just have to go and do the best I can."
Standing between Groves and the sole Olympic 10m air pistol berth - his priority of the two disciplines - is three-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth gold medallist Daniel Repacholi.
Groves overcame the 37-year-old in a thrilling Oceanias final last year but will need to be at his best to repeat the feat.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sergei Evglevski and ACT's Thomas Ashmore are among the names vying for a single selection in the 25m rapid fire.
"[Repacholi] is a very experienced shooter so it'll be good tough competition to take the spot from him - he's a good person and we'll both try very hard," Groves said.
"He's a very nice guy, we get along really well. At Oceanias last year he was very supportive of my shooting and my competition and was happy that I succeeded in getting the quota.
"There's three others in rapid fire but all four of us are best of mates, one of them lives over here with me, I train with him.
"For us it's just like going to another regular comp - we're always trying to see who's the best."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
While chasing his Olympic dream, Groves remains working as an engineer for Subsea 7 in Perth.
Even with full-time work, daily gym sessions and regular shooting practice filling his days, the 2015 Examiner Junior Sports Award winner and former Evandale Primary School student has his mind firmly set on the three upcoming selection events.
"I can't deny that there is stress and nervous feelings and I'm sure it'll peak just before I start competing on the weekend," said Groves, who will turn 23 in May.
"But there's not much I can do to make those feelings go away, I just have to work with them as best I can.
"I'm used to those feelings now - I had them at Oceanias last year and I succeeded with them so I've just got to have a bit of faith and be competitive."
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