Sally Pearson will take centre stage at Carrara Stadium for the first time on Saturday night.
It promises to be the first of many times over the next couple of months.
Pearson will be the unbackable favourite at the Australian Commonwealth Games trials in the 100m hurdles, with the heats and final both scheduled for Saturday evening.
The 31-year-old has already bettered the qualifying standard a dozen times - most notably when she clocked 12.48 seconds last August in London to win a second world title to sit alongside her 2012 Olympic crown.
Pearson is also the two-time defending Commonwealth champion, but the 2018 Games shape as an extra-special occasion as they are hosted by her hometown.
"There's obviously more pressure because people are coming to watch you race and everyone is really, really excited and can't wait to get there," Pearson said.
"You have that, but at the same time, as the athlete, you're just going in there, you're not really focusing on the fact that you're in your home country or in your hometown.
"You're trying to focus on the job at hand."
Brianna Beahan and Michelle Jenneke are best placed to claim the maximum two other spots on offer in the Australian squad in the 100m hurdles - but in reality they are racing for second spot at best.
Pearson is set to to compete in two events at the April 4-15 Games, having also made herself available for the 4x100m relay for the first time in several years.
She has always been an accomplished flat sprinter, as proved by a flying time of 11.17 last December, much quicker than any of the Australian 100m specialists have gone during the qualifying period.
The relay squad would likely also include national record holder Melissa Breen and rising star Riley Day.
"It would be fantastic," said Pearson.
"I haven't done relays for a long time now.
"I think the last time we had a team was in 2011 at the world championships.
"There's a lot of new girls. This time will be great, to get another chance to step out into the stadium in front of your home crowd is always a thrill."
Pearson has already been told that she will be running one of the final legs of the Queen's Baton Relay on April 4 and would also jump at the chance to play a role in the opening ceremony if asked.
I'd definitely love to be a part of what they have going on but it depends on what they think is right," she said.
"I'm definitely going to the opening ceremony, so if they want me to do an extra job, then I'll be there."
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