Despite "teething problems", James Magnussen believes it would have been a risk if he had not made a controversial coaching switch ahead of this week's national swimming titles in Sydney.
When he made the stunning call to align with the untested Falvey brothers six months ago, Swimming Australia went so far as to issue a statement saying it would not endorse his choice.
But he maintains that the move away from Brant Best - the man who led him to two world 100m freestyle titles - was a smart one.
"I would have been taking a risk staying where I was," he told AAP.
"I wasn't enjoying my swimming.
"I felt stale. I needed a change.
"Obviously there were some teething problems but we have all moved past that. It's all amicable now (with SA)."
The fact that Magnussen is clocking in-season times that are one second slower than 12 months ago under Best, also didn't seem to trouble him.
After stripping 5kg off his towering 195cm frame, partly to ease the burden on his troublesome back, Magnussen felt it was only a matter of time before he came good.
"Over the years it (national titles) had become pretty routine but having new people around me, it feels like it has taken me back to my younger days," he said.
"I will definitely be swimming fast - I just don't know how fast."
Magnussen will bid to reclaim the national 100m crown he surprisingly relinquished last year to Cameron McEvoy.
But he won't be consumed by revenge at the seven-day trials.
"I definitely want it (100m title) back but I got over that five minutes after the fact," Magnussen said.
"It's not like the Olympics. Once you have tasted defeat there it burns pretty deep.
"A nationals didn't faze me at all. I bounced back at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games straight away (in August)."
Magnussen said he was not concerned with times in Sydney, just having a No.1 against his name in the 100m where he would need a top two finish to ensure he can defend his world title in Kazan, Russia in July.
He added that the return of Grant Hackett in his first major meet since the 2008 Olympics would help ease pool-side nerves.
"It is a young team and I am becoming one of the older members now," he said.
"So to have someone like Grant pool-side feels like it has lifted a weight off my shoulders."
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