After several long years blighted by injury, Emma Jackson will be among a 10-strong Australian squad in Tokyo this week chasing automatic berths in the Australian team for the 2020 Olympics.
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Jackson, 27, looked to have the world at her feet when she won the Under-23 world championship in 2010 before going on to make her Olympic debut two years later in London where she finished eighth.
A series of serious injuries - including to her foot, quad and back - have hampered the Queenslander in recent years, although she showed she was back to her best with a maiden World Triathlon Series (WTS) victory last month in Edmonton.
The official Olympic women's test event on Thursday is another big step up, with a guaranteed Olympic berth on offer for the first Australian on the podium.
"It's been a rough couple of years with not being able to train or compete at the level I know I am capable of, but I finally feel I'm on my way back to being the best athlete I can be," Jackson said.
"Being selected to compete at the test event for the 2020 Olympic Games and named on the world championship team is something I don't take for granted."
Rio Olympian Ashleigh Gentle is also in the strong five-woman Australian squad to contest the event on the Olympic course at Odaiba Marine Park.
The field includes American superstar Katie Zaferes, two-time world champ Flora Duffy from Bermuda and a full-strength British lineup of Georgia Taylor-Brown, Jess Learmonth, Vicky Holland and Non Stanford.
Jake Birtwhistle, Matt Hauser and Rio Olympian Aaron Royle are among the five Australians who will tackle the men's race on Friday.
Birtwhistle is enjoying his best-ever season with two WTS victories already under his belt.
As is the case in the women's race, the first Australian man on the podium will lock down their spot on the 2020 Olympic team.
Among the big-name absentees in Tokyo this week will be WTS stars Vincent Luis (France) and Spaniards Mario Mola and Javier Gomez Noya.
But 2018 Commonwealth champion Henri Schoeman will be on the start-line alongside Belgians Jelle Geens and Marten Van Riel.
The Tokyo test event wraps up on Sunday with the mixed relay where Australia is currently ranked No.1 in the world.
The mixed relay has been added to the Olympic program for the first time in 2020.
Australian triathlon squad for Tokyo Olympics test event:
Men: Jacob Birtwhistle, Aaron Royle, Luke Willian, Matthew Hauser, Ryan Fisher.
Women: Ashleigh Gentle, Natalie Van Coevorden, Jaz Hedgeland, Emma Jackson, Emma Jeffcoat.
Australian Associated Press
