He feared a reality check but nothing quite prepared Australian swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren for the disastrous world championships start made by the men's team in Russia on Sunday.
After Australia emerged as "virtual world No.1" following last year's Pan Pacific titles, Verhaeren warned the true test awaited at the worlds in Kazan.
And so far the men have not measured up.
The stage was set when No.1-ranked Mack Horton sensationally missed Sunday night's 400m freestyle final.
Defending world champion Christian Sprenger then failed to advance from the 100m breaststroke heats.
And after Verhaeren rested Pan Pacs champ Cameron McEvoy, Australia did not qualify for the 4x100m freestyle relay final along with Olympic silver medallist the United States.
In contrast, Australia's 4x100m freestyle women's team (2nd; three minutes, 35.86 seconds) almost upstaged the US (3:35.52) ahead of Sunday night's final despite resting world champion Cate Campbell and No.4 ranked sister Bronte.
Jess Ashwood (2nd; 4:04.47) impressed behind American champion Katie Ledecky (4:01.73) ahead of Sunday night's 400m freestyle final.
But Verhaeren did not feel he had to fire up the men.
"Not in particular the men's team," he said.
"It is a world championship, you don't get away with an easy swim.
"Of course you want to do better than this but for us we have to remain focused."
Horton (11th; 3:47.37) was almost five seconds slower than his world No.1 ranking time (3:42.84).
World No.3-ranked compatriot David McKeon (10th; 3:47.36) also sunk behind pace setting Olympic champion Sun Yang (3:44.99).
"At least one of those guys should have been there (in 400m final)," Verhaeren said.
Sprenger (28th; 1:01.13) failed to make Sunday night's semi-finals unlike compatriot Jake Packard (9th; 59.92) and British world record holder Adam Peaty (1st; 58.52).
Sprenger admitted he was not at Kazan to win medals after struggling to recover from a shoulder tendon injury.
Teenager Kyle Chalmers was a rare shining light after his superb second leg (47.92) for the men's relay heats team but it wasn't enough to get Australia (13th; 3:16.34) into Sunday night's final.
Australia - fourth at the London Games and 2013 worlds - sorely missed McEvoy and world champion James Magnussen (shoulder).
World silver medallists US (11th: 3:16.01) also missed the top eight cut topped by Russia (3:12.46).
"I still think it is (right decision) because people have to race when they are able to," Verhaeren said of resting McEvoy ahead of Monday's 200m freestyle heats.
"Kyle did amazing in the relay but it is a team effort and you have to step up.
"If these guys raced at their personal best level we should have gone through."
Jayden Hadler (19th; 23.83) missed the 50m butterfly semis.
Emma McKeon (8th; 58.24) and Madeline Groves (10th; 58.31) are in Sunday night's 100m butterfly semis and Tessa Wallace (15th; 2:13.23) is in the 200m IM semis.
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