Two-time Olympian Emma Moffatt will have a have a thorough test of her early-season form at the Mooloolaba World Cup triathlon.
Saturday's sprint distance race will be the first time the Beijing Games bronze medallist has competed since November.
The women's field will also feature her Gold Coast training partner Ashleigh Gentle, who showed outstanding form last weekend.
Gentle finished second at the opening round of the world series in Abu Dhabi.
Moffatt and Gentle are building up to the crucial April 9-10 world series round on the Gold Coast.
The first Australian across the line on the Gold Coast in the men's and women's races gains Rio Olympics selection, provided they are in the top 10 of their races.
"It will be important to work on the little things like the transitions to make sure you get them all right," Moffatt said of Saturday's race.
"It's a great rehearsal for the Olympic qualifier.
"I can't believe I'm talking about a third Olympics."
Moffatt has been working once a week with Steve Rooney, who rode for Australia at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
Gentle will give Moffatt a good indication of how that work is going, given the bike leg was crucial to her second placing in Abu Dhabi.
The World Cup will a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run - half the distance of the Olympics format.
The men's race will feature Courtney Atkinson, another Australian aiming for his third Olympics team.
But the overwhelming favourite is Spaniard Mario Mola, who won in Abu Dhabi.
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