on Sunday, but the 20-year-old three-time junior winner is not overawed by the prediction of many that he will be up there challenging for first place overall at the end.

Doyling is by no means conceding in thinking that defending champion Greg Hopkins and Neil De Ste. Croix are the men to beat. He strongly feels that these two individuals, who finished first and second respectively a year ago, have the talent to win it again this time around.

"Greg and Neil are the two major threats. They are both good performers in all three events and it is going to take a tremendous effort for me to beat them home,'' said Doyling.

"I have set no real goal as far as time is concerned, I just want to try and be competitive and stick around to the end so that I can have a chance to win it.'' Doyling is regarded as being a rising star in triathlon after proving to be far ahead of other youngsters his age since taking up the sport seriously in 1989.

While he has run away with honours in the junior division, Doyling has a battle on his hands if he intends to sweep aside the challenge of Hopkins and De Ste. Croix and win the senior men's division for the first time.

However, there is no reason why Doyling should not remain optimistic, especially after placing third overall for two consecutive years -- finishing behind Hopkins and De Ste. Croix after entering with 12 stitches above his eye, the result of a motorcycle accident a few weeks prior to the 1991 race.

"The accident forced me to withdraw from the team triathlon, but I was looking forward to the individual and decided to give it a shot. There was no real discomfort during the event, but the honest truth is that I was no better than 75 to 80 percent ready for it,'' said the former Warwick Secondary school student.

Even still he was satisfied with his time last year, which was one hour, 44 minutes and 44 seconds. Hopkins won uncontested in a time of 1:35:18 with De Ste. Croix isolated as the runner-up in 1:42:19. Doyling's personal best in the event is 1:40:06 in 1990.

Doyling got a taste of the challenge that lies ahead on Sunday. In the team event with Amanda Smith (swimming) and Errol Cormack (running), Doyling was fifth overall after turning in the third fastest cycling time -- behind rivals Hopkins and De Ste. Croix.

"Neil's swimming has come along nicely, he is definitely going to be a threat all the way. My aim is to stay with Greg from the swim event, if I let him get away and into the cycling with a sizeable lead it will be tough catching up with him,'' said Doyling whose strength lies in cycling.

He is happy to have corrected a problem he experienced early in the year with shin splints, now with proper soles inserted in his shoes to suppport his arches.

"It was a big problem to me, but is now solved and things worked out pretty good on Sunday,'' he said.

While most are favouring the winner to emerge from this trio, Doyling feels that one dark horse is Kevin Tucker.

STEVEN DOYLING -- Third the past two years.