The Missile to explode in Perth
World 100m freestyle champion James Magnussen will kick off his 2014 season at next week's WA State Championships.
The 22-year-old will join a number of his Australian teammates at Challenge Stadium for the January 20-24 titles as they continue their preparations for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series later this month.
One of the world's fastest swimmers at his peak, Magnussen will compete in both the 100m and 200m freestyle at the State championships, the same events he is likely to target at July's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Daniel Tranter and Jessica Ashwood (NSW) are two other members of the Super Series squad set to compete in Perth.
Magnussen's competition in the 100m is set to be fierce, with fellow Olympians Matt Abood and Tommy D'Orsogna also likely to line up in the showpiece event.
Should he compete as expected, the State championships will mark the first time D'Orsogna has competed in his home State since moving to Queensland last year.
International competitors Yasunori Hirai (Japan) and Kane Radford (New Zealand) will also swim at the event.
Magnussen made a return to form at last year's World Championships in Barcelona, rebounding from a disappointing London Olympics campaign to defend his 100m freestyle title.
He was also part of the men's 4x100m medley relay team which claimed silver behind France.
But despite the positive results Magnussen remains under intense pressure to perform in Glasgow, with Olympic legend Dawn Fraser recently declaring he had a long way to go to make up for the disappointment of missing out on a gold medal in London.
Now in its second year, the Aquatic Super Series will see the Aussies take on China, South Africa, Brazil and Japan at Challenge Stadium in one of the only international meetings to take place in Australia.
Australia dominated the meeting last year, winning 26 of 39 races against China and South Africa.
Freestyle queen Cate Campbell was named women's swimmer of the meet, while Christian Sprenger took home the men's award.
The event also features open water racing and water polo.
