Australia will bypass the women's team sprint at the world track cycling championships only two years after being the nation to beat in the event.
The stunning decision was taken because of a knee injury to Kaarle McCulloch and the lack of an adequate back-up rider to partner Anna Meares.
It means Meares and rising star Stephanie Morton will concentrate on individual sprint events at the worlds, from February 26-March 2 in Cali, Colombia.
"It's based on the fact I don't think we're going to be competitive in that event this year," said Australian sprint coach Gary West.
"It opens the door for aspiring young sprinters to step up.
"There's more to be done in regards to Steph if she wants to secure that spot.
"If we had a partner for Anna Meares who had demonstrated she was world class, it wouldn't matter who the individual was - we would be going at it at 100 miles per hour."
From 2009-11, Meares and McCulloch were the benchmarks in the event.
They had the world record and won three world titles.
Germany upset them to win the 2012 world titles in Melbourne, before Meares and McCulloch won bronze at the London Olympics.
Meares had most of last year and missed the worlds, where
McCulloch and Morton finished fourth.
McCulloch also missed last week's national championships because of her knee injury.
"It's nothing major, but it does flare up from time to time," West said.
"She will be sorely missed because she's an experienced campaigner and she certainly adds to our team."
But the positive has been Morton, 23, who scored the upset win at the nationals when she beat Meares in the keirin final.
"It's not surprising for me that she's putting out some of these performances," West said.
"She's continually improving.
"There's more work for her to do, but she's taking some important steps."
Meares is making a successful return to competition - she broke the 500m time trial world record late last year and won two Australian titles to take her career total to 31.
"She needs to get that race hardness back," West said.
"It will be interesting to see how she goes - she's in good shape, physically and mentally."
Shane Perkins will also return to the worlds team after missing last year because of shoulder surgery.
He will combine with rising star Matthew Glaetzer and Dan Ellis in the team sprint, while Perkins and Glaetzer will contest the individual sprint events.
Ellis, who rode at the Beijing Olympics, is making a comeback and this will be his first worlds since 2009.
Apart from confirming the five-rider sprint team, on Wednesday Cycling Australia also announced a track endurance long team of six men and six women for the worlds.
The final team will be announced on February 14.
