This is a test Australia’s best swimmers will converge on the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic centre tomorrow night for the 2011 Australian Swimming Championships incorporating selection trials for the 14th FINA World Championships to be held in Shangai in July.

Commonwealth Games gold medallists including Alicia Coutts (AIS), Brenton Rickard, Leisel Jones, Jessica Schipper, Stephanie Rice and Emily Seebohm will compete across the eight days of competition.

In all, some 690 swimmers will compete in 60 events, with the meet incorporating selection trials for the 2011 Pan Pacific Championships to be held in Canada from August 10-14.

Swimming Australia Head Coach Leigh Nugent says the Australian Championships promise to showcase some quality swimming, with tight qualifying times for all races meaning athletes will need to be at their best.

“We’ve set the qualifying times with the aim of encouraging some close racing and that’s exactly what we expect to see over the eight days of competition,” Nugent said.

Selection on the world championship and Pan Pacific team is the goal for many, and to do that swimmers are going to have to produce quality performances.”

“Shangai will be an important gauge for us heading into an Olympic year, and just like the Olympics there will only be two spots up for grabs in each event at this year’s trials.”

The 2011 Australian Championships will start with the first heats session on Friday, 1 April from 10.00am.