The emergence of the mixed team relay as an Olympic event is fuelling triathlete Aaron Royle's resurgence despite the rise of generation next.
The Newcastle talent was overlooked in favour of young pair Luke Willian and Matt Hauser, who joined Jake Birtwhistle at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year after he failed to earn automatic qualification.
A coaching swap, move to the United Kingdom and nasty foot injury combined to stymie his Commonwealth Games dream, before he ironically stared his selection snub in the face as a commentator on the Gold Coast.
However, the 28-year-old enjoyed the different perspective and, now fit and firing, is keen to prove himself on the same course in Sunday's World Triathlon Series grand final.
"It's starting to feel like back to where I should be, which is consistently inside the top 10 and getting myself on the podium here and there," he told AAP.
"It's only a good thing (the depth of talent) - sitting on the sidelines in a moon boot watching them go well was quite motivating."
Royle's ninth was Australia's best result in the men's triathlon at Rio in 2016 and he is now eyeing a second Olympics in Tokyo.
The addition of the mixed team relay, where Australia is traditionally strong, is of particular interest.
"The relay adds a new dynamic, you need to show your ability across the board and that's my strength," he said.
"It has been a tough two years since the Olympics ... (injuries) meant I was chasing my tail and that's never a good sign.
"But you need to have those interim years and now we're getting into the business end of the four-year cycle."
Royle will wear bib No.18 on Sunday as Australia's second-highest ranked competitor behind No.2-ranked Birtwhistle.
A solid performance on Sunday would see Birtwhistle, 23, become Australia's first male medal-winner in the series since Brad Kahlefeldt finished third in 2010.
"Jake has been phenomenal this year," Royle said.
"It's going to be a fast race - a very, very quick course."
