The looming Hawaiian Ironman world championships has meant a stacked professional lineup for Sunday's Sunshine Coast 70.3 triathlon.
While Craig Alexander, Brad Kahlefeldt and Tim Reed are notable late withdrawals, the race will still feature a world-class field.
Australians Luke McKenzie and Annabel Luxford and Swiss Caroline Steffen are among the big names using Sunday's half-Ironman distance race to fine-tune their preparations for Kona.
The Hawaiian worlds are on October 10.
McKenzie was runner-up at Kona two years ago, while Steffen is a regular top-five finisher there and Luxford will make her debut.
Alexander has pulled out because of illness, while Kahlefeldt has decided to bypass Sunday ahead of his first race at Hawaii and Reed is resting from a bout of overtraining.
Other big names in action include Australian Tim Van Berkel, who made the top 10 at Hawaii last year, compatriot Luke Bell and New Zealand's Terenzo Bozzone.
The 70.3 format is a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21.1km half marathon run.
The Sunshine Coast race will also be next year's 70.3 world championships.
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