World champion diver Maddison Keeney has urged selectors to include experienced pair Melissa Wu and Domonic Bedggood in the Commonwealth Games team despite both missing this week's trials through injury.
Wu withdrew last week with a back injury, while Bedggood hurt his leg in a training incident and was a last-minute scratching on Thursday when diving began at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
Wu has been a podium regular for almost 12 years at major events. Bedggood won gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and teamed with Wu to win bronze at the 2015 world championships.
Both are expected to be fit for April's Games and have applied for special consideration to be chosen in the 14-person squad when it is finalised on Monday.
Team officials are hopeful of gaining permission to add one extra diver to the Australian squad, with selectors set for some tough decisions if enough push their case this week in the pool.
Keeney, who claimed Olympic bronze in Rio and gold at this year's world championships in Hungary, all but sealed her berth with a comfortable win alongside Anabelle Smith in Thursday's 3m synchronised event.
The 21-year-old hopes to see the experienced duo on deck to help what will be an otherwise young team in April at the same Gold Coast venue.
"She's such a leader and mother to us all," Keeney said of the 25-year-old Wu.
"She's got so much experience for someone so young; she's like a staple in our team. It'd be weird without her there."
Keeney baulked on her second-last dive to miss gold in 2014 in Glasgow, leaving disappointed despite winning silver and bronze.
She also bombed her final effort at the 2015 world titles, but said she'd since come to grips with the brutality of the sport.
"That's a very important part of my career and how I've changed as a diver," she said of Glasgow.
"I've definitely tasted both ends of the bitterness and success ... it's a big experience game and you can't do much without it."
Keeney and Smith (628.41) were too good for Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan (576.6) in the 3m final, with Alysha Koloi and Kate Rosman (520.26) third.
Emerging 17-year-old Matthew Carter (762.20) took out the 1m final while less than one point split Kurtis Mathews (706.4) and James Connor (705.85) for the minor placings.
Brittany O'Brien and AnnaRose Keating (592.26) won the 10m synchronised final from Nikita Hains and Emily Meaney (534.24) and Teju Williamson and Caitlyn Bowell (531.30).
Diving continues until Sunday.
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