Adlington, who turned 19 last month, will be the red-hot favourite to land the 800m freestyle title in Sheffield after romping to victory 12 months ago with a lifetime best of 8.25.73 minutes.

The Nova Centurion Swimming Club star’s display was even more impressive as she came within a second of breaking Sarah Hardcastle’s 1986 national record – the oldest record in British swimming.

But with only the top two guaranteed a place on the plane to Beijing Adlington knows she will have to be at her best to stave off the challenge from the likes of Rebecca Cooke and Jo Jackson.

“The 800 is so competitive at the minute that you need to perform every time you get in the pool,” she said. “There are six of us who have the qualifying time so it is going to be a tough race and I have to perform at my best on the day.

“I won’t take anything for granted but I have great confidence in myself that I can firstly make it through the trials and from there make it into the Olympic final. My preparation has gone very well and I can’t wait for the race to start.

“Everything I have done in the last two years has been geared towards this race so it is a huge day for me.”

And while the Mansfield-born ace admitted the heat will be on in Sheffield she revealed British Swimming’s decision to stage the event at Ponds Forge had come as a welcome relief.

“The Olympics are my main goal because that is what I’ve been training for, what I’ve worked so hard for,” she added. “So the pressure is going to be on all of us.

“But I am glad it is in Sheffield as I always swim fast there.

“It is a really nice venue, so well organised and when you go to other venues it takes two or three days to get yourself organised but not at Ponds Forge.

“It is just so easy and convenient at Sheffield and it is a fast pool.”

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