He is considered by swimming great Grant Hackett as Australia's next Olympic 1,500m freestyle champion.
But teenager Mack Horton appears intent on rekindling another Aussie tradition in the pool when the world titles start in Kazan, Russia on Sunday against Olympic 400m freestyle champ Sun Yang.
Horton has already been anointed by comeback king Hackett as the next to revive Australia's long tradition of 1,500m freestyle champions after making his first world titles team.
However, world No.1-ranked Horton sounds primed to renew Australia's glory days in the 400m freestyle despite the presence of the controversial Sun.
Not since Hackett first retired in 2008 and Ian Thorpe's prime has Australia been able to hit the ground running at a world titles meet by enjoying 400m success.
Fittingly, childhood Hackett fan Horton looks ready to change all that even with Sun back from a doping ban.
"Everyone is beatable so we have to wait and see what happens," said Horton of his Chinese rival.
The lanky, bespeckled Victorian is ranked No.1 in 400m and 800m ahead of the eight day titles held at a converted football stadium.
However, he sounded like someone with still plenty to prove in Kazan after some team selection near misses despite clocking 2015's pace setting 400m time of three minutes, 44.28 seconds - more than a second ahead of Sun, the world No.4 (3:42.84).
"I missed the London (Olympic) team by I think 1.5 seconds," Horton said.
"I also missed worlds in 2013, just got touched out (at selection trials) so yeah, it's great to finally be at a world championships.
"I've done a fair amount of international racing, but I haven't had the whole field there racing.
"It's pretty exciting to have such a strong field ... to push me and just see where I can go."
World champion Sun is at Kazan after serving a three-month doping last year - albeit one that was kept secret until he returned to racing at last September's Asian Games.
"I actually spoke to him for the first time yesterday," Horton said of the Chinese champion on Friday.
"He came up and introduced himself to me and that was the first time we have spoken.
"He seemed pretty friendly, which was good.
"He's posted some incredible times so it will be good to see what he can get out of me.
"The 400 will be just get out there and see where I'm at and see what I can do and just get comfortable in the environment."
Another huge day one medal chance is the Australian women's world record setting 4x100m freestyle team led by No.1 ranked Cate Campbell and sister Bronte.
The men's 100m relay team is missing dual world champion James Magnussen (shoulder).
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