NEWCASTLE triathlete Aaron Royle hopes a solid training block in Spain will have him in the best possible shape to race in England this weekend and push for a second Olympic appearance.
Five years on from his Games debut in Rio and unlike last time around, Royle has yet to qualify for Tokyo and Australia's quota spots remain unconfirmed.
The upcoming World Triathlon Championship Series event in Leeds marks the last chance to both state his own case and secure national points before the team is selected.
Royle, 31, failed to finish in Japan on May 15 because of an Achilles tendon injury.
"I'm much better going into this race than Yokohama," Royle told the Newcastle Herald.
"It's difficult going into a race like Yokohama knowing you're carrying a niggle, but I just have to be prepared to suffer in Leeds. What will be, will be. I'm not thinking about what it will mean for the Games just yet."
Royle has recently been based in Girona and says "thankfully the Achilles has eased and I've managed a few weeks now of close to normal run loads and speeds".
"Leeds will be my last race before selection and there will either be one or two spots still up for grabs depending on quota and how other athletes from other nations go," he said.
Royle joins fellow Aussie representative Jake Birtwhistle, who has already been nominated for the Olympics, on the starting line.
His main rivals, Luke Willian and Matt Hauser, race at the Oceania Triathlon Cup on the Gold Coast this Saturday.
The postponed Games are due to get underway in Japan on July 23.
