Even world record holder David Rudisha knows that fast-improving Alex Rowe will be chasing the 46-year-old Australian mark in a stacked 800m at the Herculis Diamond League meet on Friday night (Saturday morning AEST).
Remarkably, the record has stood since the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, when Ralph Doubell powered home to win gold in one minute 44.40 seconds.
Rowe, 22, moved to third on the Australian alltime list with a time of 1:44.74 in Belgium earlier this month.
A third straight European victory in Switzerland on Tuesday night then earned him a shock invitation to one of the most prestigious track and field meets on the planet.
Now he intends to make the most of it, especially with Rudisha's regular pacemaker Sammy Tangui on hand to ensure that the speed will be on from the start in Monte Carlo.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about the Australian record," Rowe said on Thursday.
"That is definitely something I would love to achieve here.
"But if I don't, I have still had a great season so far and I still have the Commonwealth Games to look forward to.
"It would be great to get that record but, if not, I am 22 and have another eight years to get it.
"It is not the be-all and end-all, it is just a good opportunity."
Rudisha, the world and Olympic champion, has close ties to Australia through his manager James Templeton.
Coincidentally, the peerless Kenyan's father Daniel Rudisha won Olympic silver in the 4x400m relay in Mexico City, the same Games where Doubell set the Australian 800m record.
With the likes of Rudisha, Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos from Botswana and world indoor and outdoor champion Mohammed Aman from Ethiopia in the field in Monte Carlo, Rowe knows a win is effectively out of the question for him.
But he has no intention of just making up the numbers either.
"Going to the world championships last year, seeing all the stars and competing against them, at first you are star-struck," he said.
"But the more you do it the more normal it becomes.
"Now I'm going into the race not fazed by the big names.
"I see myself as just another competitor in the race rather than an observer sitting back watching these amazing athletes compete.
"I definitely want to beat some of them."
And whatever happens on Friday night at the Stade Louis II, Rowe won't have to wait long for a rematch with Rudisha, who will be one of the star attractions at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
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