KEY POINTS:
Clive Rushton is confident about 18 swimmers will qualify for next year's world championships at the trials which start in Auckland today.
Swimming New Zealand's director of coaching said although the qualifying standards in this week's trials at the West Wave Aquatic Centre were tough, he was expecting
the country's leading swimmers to not only make them but make them comfortably.
The qualifying mark is set at fifth place in the world over the last 12 months plus 3 per cent .
"They are the same sort of standards we used for last year's world championships in Montreal," Rushton said. "We have been at that sort of level now for three years. As we do it - more swimmers step up."
Based on performances during the past three years, he said they would be looking at a team of 16-20 swimmers for the world championships in Melbourne in March, a key event leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Eighteen swimmers represented New Zealand at the last world championships in Montreal.
"If swimmers want to succeed at Beijing in terms of making finals and improving their world rankings, then they will need to put their hands up this week. We could have some swimmers step up in the next 12 months and make the team for Beijing at next year's trials but if swimmers want to succeed in Beijing then they need to be performing at the world championships in March.
"At the top level of this sport, you can only make small incremental improvements so this week is the first step in that process."
The trials are scheduled to start at the Aquatic Centre today, however, yesterday the venue was closed after several teenage waterpolo players fell ill - but Swimming NZ has received a verbal health clearance.
All key swimmers will be competing in the trials with Zoe Baker and Cameron Gibson back from their training base in Bath, England.
Helen Norfolk (North Shore) will concentrate on the 200m and 400m freestyle rather than the individual medley after her national record in the 400m free this year.
Teammate Liz Coster will compete in the unusual combination of backstroke and butterfly events while Atlanta Olympian Alison Fitch will concentrate on the freestyle relays.
Dean Kent has returned from 10 weeks training with the English team on the Gold Coast, while Melissa Ingram, who has gained a world championship medal in backstroke, will also focus on the 400m freestyle.
Commonwealth Games backstroke record holder Hannah McLean, who had a long break after Melbourne, has been training well as have butterflier Georgina Toomey and breaststroker Annabelle Carey.
Melbourne gold medallist Moss Burmester has his sights set on the 200m freestyle as well as his butterfly events while West Auckland Aquatics teenager Lauren Boyle will concentrate on freestyle.
Rushton said Kelly Bentley, Cara Baker, Robert Voss, Daniel Ryan who qualified for the world short course championships, 1500m specialist Bryn Murphy and youngster Natalie Wiegersma, who won a world youth title, would also be putting their hands up for selection.
The World Championships
* Melbourne March 17 to April 1
* Qualifying mark fifth in world plus 3 per cent
