Josh Amberger will be aiming to translate his strong 70.3 triathlon form into Ironman success when he makes the big step up in distance in Port Macquarie on Sunday.
The 26-year-old Australian will line up for his Ironman debut on the NSW mid-north coast having strung together three podium finishes already this year in half-Ironman races: second to world champion Jan Frodeno in Dubai, third in Geelong and second at Putrajaya in Malaysia.
Amberger chose Ironman Australia to test himself given his familiarity with the course at Port Macquarie, where he won the 70.3 title in 2014.
"I know what it takes to perform on this course, particularly on the bike," Amberger said.
"And I believe the hills and road conditions work in my favour.
"I also like that the run course is four laps of the 70.3 course ... this helps me to visualise running a full marathon without being too nervous about it."
Amberger's main threats in the race - a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run - will likely come from hardened pair Paul Ambrose and Luke Bell.
Defending champion Ambrose held off a fast-finishing Bell to claim the title last year by two and a half minutes.
David Dellow and Tim Reed are other Australians that have claims to challenge for the top prize, while American Jim Lubinski, Finland's Jarmo Hast and Frenchman Simon Billeau are the pick of the overseas contingent.
In the women's race, defending champion Michelle Bremer's biggest threats are set to come from fellow New Zealander Gina Crawford and American Beth Gerdes.
At Ironman New Zealand last month, Bremer and Crawford both enjoyed top-10 finishes, while Gerdes was an impressive 15th in her first trip to the Ironman world championships in Hawaii last October.
The most inspiring starter in the field will be Turia Pitt, who takes on the gruelling race five years after an horrific bushfire during an ultra-marathon in Western Australia nearly claimed her life.
Pitt was left with burns to over 65 per cent of her body, no fingers or thumb on her right hand and a long road to recovery.
After more than 200 operations, she will take on what she describes as her "ultimate challenge to prove that I'm stronger, fitter, and faster than I was before the fire".
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