By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

Jodie Swallow has already triumphed twice on the Salford Quays triathlon course, but on Sunday the 21-year-old Loughborough student faces an almighty task to extend her victorious sequence.

The English youngster comes up against the might of an Australian team containing three former world champions in the gruelling final day challenge around the roads and waterways of Manchester.

Having already won three successive British titles at such a young age, Essex girl Swallow is widely tipped as the favourite to upset the bullish Australians and collect Commonwealth Games gold.

And despite her lack of experience having found her out internationally this year, Swallow is approaching her home Games with unbridled optimism.

"I've had some trouble this year and now I'm keen to show people what I'm capable of," she said.

"If I'd performed to my potential at the start of the year then maybe I'd be looking at a medal, but it hasn't all gone to plan."

Swallow flopped at the European Championships in July when, widely tipped to win a medal, she finished 31st.

But she insists she has gained valuable pointers out of her steep learning curve abroad.

"The European Championships were an exceptional experience. There were factors in the race that I hadn't experienced before and wasn't prepared for," she added.

"I've learnt a lot from that race and the mistakes I made there won't happen again."

Australians Nicole Hackett, Loretta Harrop and Michelle Jones are also likely to be pushed by Canadian Carol Montgomery in the quest to become the first ever Commonwealth triathlon champion.

Simon Lessing aims to make up for his Olympic disappointment in the men's competition.

A hot favourite for the Olympics in Sydney two years ago, Lessing could only finish ninth and, at the age of 31, time is running out for the five-times world champion to claim a major multi-sports title.

Lessing said: "I don't feel the pressure as much as I did in Sydney. I really just want to go out and give it my best and if I win that's fantastic. If I don't I just go on to the next step.

"But now at this stage of my career anything that happens is really a cherry on top. I've got nothing to lose so it's just a bonus if I do well."

Olympic champion Simon Whitfield is the pre-race favourite, having followed up his win Down Under with two successive World Cup wins coming into the games.

And former world champion Chris McCormack of Australia aims to make his phenomenal bike speed count.