All of a sudden, Australian swimmer Iona Anderson is a gold medal favourite at the Commonwealth Games.
The 20-year-old will readily admit she'd prefer to continue flying under the radar, but it won't be possible in Glasgow with five-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown out sick.
Anderson, barely in the picture last year when a back injury forced her out of the pool for 10 months, returned in November at the Japan Open.
Anderson, who has opted for tartan nails at this meet in a nod to her Scottish grandparents, will now lead Australia's charge in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke races on her Commonwealth Games debut.
The Western Australian product will also compete in the women's 4x100 medley relay and the mixed 4x100 medley relay.
She was part of the women's 4x100m medley team that took silver and the 4x100m mixed medley team that claimed bronze at the Paris Olympics.
And with McKeown also missing next month's Pan Pacific Championships due to glandular fever, more silverware could be looming for Anderson.
Faced with the potential of a breakout Games, Anderson is keeping it business as usual.
"I don't really like to think about it," Anderson told AAP.
"I do enjoy being a bit under the radar and keeping a bit more to myself. I'm going to go about my business the same way, not let any of that affect me.
"I don't feel anything has changed for me personally. It's a shame that I won't get to race Kaylee.
"Every time that I do get the opportunity to race her, it's a great development opportunity for me."
But if you ask Anderson if she's thought about wearing a gold medal around her neck, a sheepish smile forms on the young gun's face.
"You always have to have a goal," Anderson said.
"I do know I can perform, and I know I'm capable of trying to piece it all together on the day."
Dolphins coach Rohan Taylor readily backed Anderson in.
"This is a great opportunity now with Kaylee not here, and puts her right up there," Taylor said.
"She'll relish it, and she's a really good competitor."
Mollie O'Callaghan will be Anderson's biggest threat in the pool with the freestyle ace to contest the 50m backstroke.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist - managing a severe spinal stress fracture - is also a chance of competing in the 100m backstroke.
Canada's Kylie Masse will be in the field to defend her 50m backstroke title, with Scottish swimmer Katie Shanahan also in the mix.
And while she may be half a world away from Perth, Anderson will enjoy a home crowd.
Her mum Pamela was born in Scotland before moving to Australia, while dad Callum was born in Australia after his family moved from the Dumfries and Galloway area.
Anderson's maternal grandparents, based in Grangemouth, will be cheering her on.
She's also snuck in a tribute to her heritage by getting Scottish swimmer - and nail technician - Keanna MacInnes to paint a tartan design on her nails.
"We've got a lot of extended family as well that were excited to come see me and try to get tickets too," Anderson said.
"Some of them were successful, some of them weren't so much."
