For Alex Rowe, the only downside of equalling Ralph Doubell's legendary Australian 800m record last year was that it happened far from family and friends.
The setting was the famed Diamond League meet in Monte Carlo, where a stacked field including world record holder David Rudisha and soon-to-be Commonwealth champion Nijel Amos from Botswana helped drag the 22-year-old Australian across the line in one minute 44.40 seconds.
It was exactly the same time as that recorded by Doubell when he won gold at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Now Rowe has his sights set on claiming sole ownership of the national standard and it could happen as soon as next month in Sydney or Melbourne as Rudisha has again been enticed Down Under to contest the two-lap races in the feature meets of the domestic season.
The great Kenyan set the world record of 1:40.91 in the most remarkable circumstances imaginable - while running from the front to win gold at the London Olympics.
Rowe is 0-4 in races against Rudisha but figures he has never had a better chance to claim his scalp, especially having run an impressive first-up time of 1:45.38 at the Canberra Track Classic last weekend.
"I'm probably a bit more advanced in my stage of the season compared to David," said Rowe.
"It's something I'm definitely not putting out of the picture.
"All I'm going to focus on is putting myself in the right position tactically to try and beat David."
Any assistance in claiming a personal best would be much appreciated too.
"Once I'm in the 1:44s I guess the mark of 1:44.40 will always be there at the back of my mind and hopefully I can get in or around that mark or as close as possible," he said.
"When I equalled the record over in Monaco it was an unusual feeling as there were very limited people I could celebrate it with.
"There was the media, but my close friends and family weren't there.
"So the prospect of doing it in Australia is a whole lot more attractive."
Rowe did not get the chance to take on Rudisha and Amos at the Commonwealth Games last year after damaging a hamstring days after his breakthrough run in Monte Carlo.
Rudisha did not need much convincing to make another trip to Australia, having also started his season here in 2010, 2011 and 2012 when he was the dominant two-lap runner on the planet.
"I'm expecting some stiff competition this year with Alex in great form already and likely to be in even better shape later in his season," he said.
"He can push the national record if the conditions are right and I want to help him do that."
The Sydney Track Classic is on March 14 and the Melbourne World Challenge is on March 21.
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