Prince Harry will have the chance to show off his sporting prowess when he visits Sydney this week to launch the 2018 Invictus Games.
The 32-year-old rugby nut and polo player begins his flying visit on Wednesday to start the countdown to the games, which will host more than 500 wounded former and serving defence personnel from 17 nations in October next year.
Harry, who spent a decade serving in the British Army and founded the games four years ago, arrives in Sydney from Singapore, where he'll take part in charity events and a polo match.
He'll launch the 500-day countdown to the Sydney games at Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove's official harbourside residence Admiralty House. He'll then watch members of the Australian squad hoping to be selected for this year's games in Toronto demonstrate adaptive sports, such as indoor rowing and wheelchair basketball.
Chief executive of the 2018 Invictus Games, Patrick Kidd, says Harry will be more than welcome to join in with the athletes.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"There's an open invitation for him to do whatever he likes," Mr Kidd told AAP.
"We'll even have a sport for him if he's been injured. All bases are covered."
Harry, who's fifth in line to the throne, will get to meet many of the Australian Invictus athletes over morning tea before they show off their skills at Circular Quay.
Army captain Emma Kadziolka, a Brisbane-based nursing officer who was diagnosed with stage two brain cancer last year, hopes she'll squeeze in a quick chat with Harry before limbering up for an indoor rowing demonstration.
"It's great to have an ambassador like Prince Harry involved because it's really important to have someone championing veterans' health, psychological and physical," she said.
"To have someone that is so in the spotlight and so passionate about it means a lot to me as an individual."
The 28-year-old's doctor and friends encouraged her to became involved with Invictus after being diagnosed with a brain tumour, which can't be treated until it gets bigger.
Her strict Invictus training regime for indoor rowing, shotput, discus and seated volleyball has kept her focused on getting as fit and healthy as possible rather than worrying about the tumour.
"I think if it wasn't for the support of Invictus and my friends and family I potentially could have fallen into a bit of a heap," she said.
Since first being held in London in 2014, the Invictus Games have shone a global spotlight on how sport can help veterans recover from illness or injury.
Last week, Harry had some blunt advice as he launched Britain's team for the 2017 games in Toronto.
"Whether you are blowing smoke out of your arse as you cross the line makes no difference. It is what you are achieving, what you have achieved to get there."
