Crawford says the timing is perfect ahead of Challenge Wanaka, where she will look to defend her title two weeks after racing at The Mount.
"I am working on changing my bike setup and my technique with the aim of improving over the flat bike courses and I would like to test this out prior to racing Challenge Wanaka.
"Also I have come off the back of my most successful year in ironman racing and I found that racing the half distance two weeks before an iron distance event works really, really well for me.
"The intense workout helps a great deal in the building of my strength and fitness. I have come to love racing the half distance, although my strength is still very much over the longer races.
"I also enjoy coming to Tauranga to race and especially look forward to running around the Mount. It's also a very nice place to bring my family [husband Brett and son Benji] for a little beach holiday."
Crawford is not daunted by the strength of the field either - in fact she welcomes it as an incentive to race hard.
"Yes it means that I will be chasing hard the whole race and will get the intense workout that I need and am looking forward to."
Meanwhile, Grant is heading into the race in a similar frame of mind, with Wanaka her ultimate aim.
"It was a last-minute decision to enter the Port of Tauranga Half, thanks mainly to my cycling team Benchmark Homes who made it possible," said the Christchurch-based triathlete.
"I've only ever done the race once before and had a shocker. Now I'm keen to start fresh and change that. I'm using it as a build up to Challenge Wanaka with, of course, the ultimate goal of taking it out."
The race gets under way at 6.30am on Saturday January 5.