Four years after a "toxic" London swimming campaign, Dawn Fraser believes Australia's Rio pool tally may surpass the country's greatest ever - that of the all conquering 1956 team.
Fraser says she is surprised at how quickly Australia has reversed their fortunes since nabbing a solitary gold in London - their worst Olympic swimming haul in 20 years.
But she says the form and - more importantly - the comradery shown since has convinced her they may eclipse the 1956 eight gold haul in the Melbourne pool.
"I have never wanted to predict gold medals for teams ... but I think this team is going to be nearly as good if not better than the 1956 team," she said at the Rio trials in Adelaide on Sunday.
Fraser won the first of her three straight 100m freestyle Olympic gold medals in Melbourne.
It helped Australia nab a remarkable haul of eight gold, four silver and two bronze.
Sixty years later, it is still Australia's most successful Olympic swimming campaign.
But Fraser believes that tally may be under threat in Rio after witnessing a remarkable turnaround as a team mentor over the past 18 months.
"I feel very involved with them, I just enjoy talking to them," the four time Olympic gold medallist said.
"It reminds me of the 1956 team.
"We were all very compatible, we were competitive in the pool but we were all mates."
It is a stunning turnaround since the post-London fallout.
Independent investigations ordered into the London pool campaign exposed a "toxic" culture within the squad, bullying and the misuse of prescription drugs by the men's 4x100m freestyle relay team dubbed "the Stilnox Six".
Dutch great Jacco Verhaeren has since taken over the reins with a goal to return Australia as world No.1 by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Australia have not enjoyed that status since 2001.
They took a huge step at the 2015 world titles where they fell one gold medal short of world No.1 United States (eight gold).
But Fraser believes Australia will be the team to beat at Rio.
"It (team culture) had to change after London," Fraser said.
"Having John Bertrand as the boss of Swimming Australia has turned it around and you've got to give it to the coaches - they have created a team.
"We haven't seen that for quite a number of years.
"I think Rio will be fantastic."
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