Olympic bronze medallist David Davies is disappointed he will not face world-record holder Grant Hackett at the Commonwealth Games in March.

The Welshman is clear favourite for the 1,500metres freestyle title in Melbourne following Hackett's withdrawal after surgery.

The Cardiff-based swimmer, who will double up in the 400m freestyle, finished third behind the Australian at the Athens Olympics and the 2005 World Championships, but is adamant he would rather test himself against the best.

Davies said: "It's a big shame. Everyone seems to assume I won't be disappointed because it makes the competition less stiff.

"Obviously he is the the world-record holder and a great swimmer but I kind of like swimming against people like that.

"It's a privilege to race against him and inspires you to perform better as well.

"The reason why I train every day, twice a day, and get up in the early hours of the morning is to have a go at beating him so it's sad he is not going to be there."

Davies will enter the Games in the unusual situation of overwhelming favourite, but the youngster - who turns 21 just prior to Melbourne - insists he will not be affected.

"I tend not to that feel that pressure at all, the only expectation I put on is my own, no-one else's," he said.

"The only thing I can do is train hard every day and give it all on the day when it comes around. I know it's a cliche but that is all I aim to do and I can't change anything - all I can do is concentrate on my own performance."

The 2002 Games were a turning point for Davies who concentrated on the 400m prior to Manchester, where he finished a surprise sixth in the 1,500m.

"It was my first senior international, I was only 17 and mainly a 400m swimmer," he said.

"I missed the final and I was disappointed because I wanted to swim in it and be in the race where Ian (Thorpe) broke the world record.

"I was sitting around for the rest of the meet and decided to be a late entry to the 1,500m purely for another swim.

"I took about 20 seconds off my best in the heat and another 20 seconds in the final - knocked off about 45 seconds - and realised that was the main event for me.

"I have great memories, a great occasion in Manchester in front of the home crowd which set me up for the rest of my swimming career.

"It was a springboard for what I wanted to do. It gave me great motivation to go and train for this event and realise that you are competing in the big events, which is what you always want to do."

Davies stresses he is as motivated by the Commonwealth Games as much as he is by the Olympics and enjoys representing Wales.

"The Olympics is obviously the main one every four years but it is nice to do the Commonwealths - it's a different experience," he added.

"It seems a bit more relaxed, a more friendly atmosphere. It's still deadly serious and you still do the same preparation as you do for every major meet.

"It's just a bit more patriotic, and a proud feeling being in the Welsh colours as opposed to Great Britain.

"Wales is a small proud nation that loves its sport so it's really good."

Swimming is set to be one of the showpiece events in Melbourne, which Davies is relishing.

He said: "I've never competed in Australia before so it is going to be interesting.

"I watched Sydney (the 2000 Olympics) on the telly and thought it was amazing, it was like a football match with the crowd there every night.

"They are going to be right behind their own swimmers so it's going to be a tough job for us to go there and take them on."