"We'll at least make it hard, hopefully, for anyone wanting to take our titles."
The Kiwi favourites will face tough competition from a strong international contingent.
Victorian multisport athlete Luke Haines is back, confident of improving on his eighth placing last year.
"My body has responded well, though, and I am looking forward to being faster in Rotorua across all disciplines. Racing in New Zealand is just plain fun - it's a great, clean countryside with lots of fit, like-minded people who really enjoy this style of racing," Haines said.
"You're always assured of a quality field - everyone knows Richard Ussher but guys like Braden Currie are also very good, while Sam Clark will also have improved after another year of racing. I'm really looking forward to the challenge."
Rising Whakatane star Clark beat Haines by a place last year, while Methven teacher Glen Currie, Braden's brother, was fourth, just ahead of another well-performed Australian, Grant Suckling.
Injury has thwarted Suckling's bid this year, though he has managed to entice compatriots Sam Maffett and John Jacoby to make the trip. Jacoby won the Coast to Coast in 1988, 1989 and 1993.
"I've slowed up as I get old and a bit heavier these days with dodgy hips that slow my running down a fair bit, but I'm really looking forward to the Rotorua mountain biking - I've heard a lot about it," Jacoby said. "I'm also hoping to see a few of my old Coast to Coast rivals."
Ussher said there was something special about competing in Rotorua.
"It is a super fun course," said the champion, who won the 50km race last year in 2:45:57.
"It is short and fast and is reasonably spectator friendly ... a great thing for the sport, as is the wide range of events to choose from - there's something for any ability.
"This event has huge potential to grow and I know everyone who had never ridden in the Rotorua trails last year went away planning a specific bike trip back to Rotorua."
Victorian Peri Gray is among the top Australian women looking to chase down Elina Ussher, as well as Deanna Blegg, Kim Beckinsale and Sharon Dilly, who filled three of the first four places in the women's 40-49 age group last year.
Beckinsale has been preparing on a steady diet of adventure races since her debut in Rotorua last year.
"I'm coming back to do the 3D event because of the awesome mountain biking trails and because we had such a great time at last year's event."
Other internationals include Italian Anthony Romano and Auckland-based John Callie, who competed for South Africa in rowing at the 1996 Olympics but has focused on multisport since retiring.
Event director Neil Gellatly, a former podium finisher at Coast to Coast, is delighted with the calibre of the overseas athletes.
"As strong as the international contingent is, they will meet a deep line-up of Kiwis desperate to keep as many of the medals and as much prize money on New Zealand soil," said the 39-year-old.
"With names like Braden Currie, Trevor Voyce, Fleur Lattimore and, of course, the Usshers, the Australians will have their work cut out for them."
The festival will also feature a 25km grassroots multisport challenge, doubling as the Secondary Schools Multisport championships, and new events include a 2km under-10 fun run, a 5.5km trail run and walk, and a standalone 30km mountain bike race through the Whakarewarewa Forest.
The feature 50km race starts with an 8km paddle on Lake Okareka, and views of Mt Tarawera in the distance, continues with a 30km mountain bike through some of the Whakarewarewa Forest's best single-tracks, then ends with a 12km trail run through the Redwoods Forest.
The prize pool tops more than $75,000, and Gellatly is expecting more than 800 competitors in year two after 500 took part last year.
"It was one of the largest paddle/bike/run festivals in the country in its inaugural year last year, and could well become the largest outright this year."
Gellatly said one of the best aspects of the 3D Festival was the chance for weekend warriors to rub shoulders with the elite in the sport.
"We have deliberately set it up just so this happens. There are not many sports events in the world where you can line up on the start alongside national and world champions, or do a course which has them pass you by somewhere along the way."
That will likely be the Usshers, who always enjoy the finish line to see where each other has placed.
"We love competing together. It is great knowing that the other is also out there giving it everything and there's always that anticipation of finding out how they've gone when we finish," said Richard.
