The club will have 25 members all aiming to register quick enough times to progress to the national titles.

While coach Michael Mullens preferred not to single anyone out, he was expecting a couple to swim fast enough to make it to the next stage.

“In training they’re producing some pretty good times,” he said.

“We’re getting to the business part of the season now. State was earlier and the kids weren’t quite ready, but for this one and anything after that they should be at full steam.”

The best swimmers from the northern part of New South Wales will all compete in another hit-out before the country championships at the end of February.

“It’s also about having another hit out,” Mullens said.

“It’s like a game of rugby league before a grand final; you don’t have five games in the whole year and expect to play well.

“Swimming is very similar.”

Any swimmer who has won a medal in any state championship (country, state age or state open) in either summer or winter from February 1 2018 may enter but are ineligible to receive a medal in the all-age events.

“You’ve got to get times for nationals – you can’t just waltz in,” Mullens said.

“Some of them are world class times you have to get to try and get to nationals.

“Our age-groupers and the Japanese are the best in the world so if you can get your time you know you’re up there.

“There are a few kids I’m expecting to do alright, but I don’t want to mention names at this stage, we’ll see what comes back.”