The American approach to the World s/c Championships is to be recommended. 'This is another stepping stone on the way to Beijing. I'm going in there to race tough. I'm not in the best shape I can be in but I'll be stepping up on my blocks and going in to race hard. It's about getting your hand to the wall first.'

Race practice is all that can be concluded from a meet at which the list of the missing is at least as long as the list of the present. No, I'm not being negative about the meet, just pointing out the truth. The championships will doubtless provide some fantastic swimming and even a fair few world records, and it will take place against a black backdrop designed to make the most of a light show and a different way of parading the athletes on to the deck - middle lanes will be introduced to the crown last. To a man and woman, swimmers and coaches, and many more besides, are looking forward to what promises to be a spectacular show.

But when it comes to such big moments in sport, it is customary to read down the event list from top to bottom to see who's in town and who's not. I started with the 50m freestyle for men and will go no further with this exercise.

One of the favourites for a medal here is 37-year-old previous winner of the 50m title, Mark Foster (GBR), for a visit to the podium would mark a fine end (perhaps) to a great short-course career at home in Britain. 'On a personal level,' he said. 'Every time I stand on the blocks I aim to try and beat everybody ... my body is getting older and I might not get many more opportunities after this.' Manchester would mark the 'finish' line for his s/c career, though he is heading to Beijing in August.

Foster, with a terrific 22.29 at British trials is 27th best in the world (and that's long-course rankings 2007-08 so far, which provide a much better clue of what is going on in world swimming in this pre-Olympic season). Above him on that list are just four men who are in Manchester. The best of of those is Roland 'The Blade' Schoeman. The fastest six men of the moment are elsewhere preparing for domestic trials and the Battle of Beijing in a year that has witnessed the dawn of a new era of speed in the pool.

As Lochte saw records tumbling head over heel last month, he phoned Michael Phelps and said: 'Man, this summer's gonna be fun.' The pace of progress was simply another prompt in the life of a nation motivated to win.

And Manchester was a step along the journey of experience. As Mark Schubert, head USA coach put it: 'America has a great history of s/c swimming. We look at s/c as fun, like college swimming, they enjoy it. It was optional to come or not. We have a great combination of Olympians and internationals and people who have not been to an international before. As we told our team, its the arena experience that they are going to experience at [Olympic] trials. They need to look at this as a fabulous opportunity for them to rehearse the whole experience.'

Most of what Rachel Komisarz, Larsen Jensen and Margaret Hoelzer, alongside Lochte, had to say revolved around getting ready for the meet, looking forward to fast times, a good crown and a light show that would help 'pump it up' (Lochte's words). Beyond that, it was clear to see that their mind's eye is forever trained on Beijing, in the sort of avaricious way in which Mordor scours the shires for the one ring.

Not that the eye cannot see what's immediately before it. 'Everyone's breaking world records. We're going to be strong. We've been strong for years,' said Jensen, Olympic silver medallist in the 1,500m in 2004. He will race David Davies (GBR) here, as Grant Hackett (AUS), in town for sponsor Speedo but not in the race, watches from the stands.

The host nation is fielding a newly selected Olympic team on a high from a tremendous week of trials in Sheffield that produced one world, two European, eight Commonwealth and 24 British records. For Kirsty Balfour, Manchester brings back happy memories: 'My first major meet was the Commonwealth Games in 2002. I am back in Manchester with a bit more experience and I am looking forward to racing and there will be an electric atmosphere.'

So too is 18-year-old Fran Halsall, who noted with a giggle: 'I live only about 30 minutes down the road from here. It's my 18th birthday on Saturday and I can't wait to have all my family and friends here watching me. They'll all be here on Saturday - it'll be a blast.'

Chris Nesbit, head coach for Britain, summed up the mood in his camp: 'We are coming here on a high after the Olympic Trials. Last week was a great week for British Swimming, with World and European records broken. It was great experience for the athletes and provides everyone with great confidence. This week is about developing that confidence on a world level, and although I'm not going to provide a medal target, I believe we will come out of the meet satisfied.'

Beyond the two nations on show yesterday, Kirsty Coventry, US-based Zimbabwean, is set to make a splash, as she takes on world champion Hoelzer in the 200m backstroke.

Watch too for Marleen Veldhuis (NED), who broke the 50 freestyle world record at last month's European championships in Eindhoven, while South Africa, fresh from a healthy set of results at Olympic trials in Durban, features two of the 'awesome foursome' - Schoeman joined by Lyndon Ferns (Ryk Neethling was down but is no longer on the sheet) - who won the Olympic 4x100 freestyle title in 2004. Then there's world 50m back champion Gerhard Zandberg. 'We've got a number of medal chances and we also hope to break some world records,' South Africa's German head coach Dirk Lange said.

But the last word to the swimmer destined to be man of the meet if he gets close to where he was in Shanghai 2006 (world marks in the 200m backstroke and medley and gold in the 400 medley). Asked for his impression of the Beijing Watercube, Lochte gave a succinct summary: 'It's like a cube'. He even managed not to smile for at least two seconds. He is down to race the 50m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 50 and 100m breaststroke, 100, 200 and 400m medley - and relays. His progress is sure to be monitored closely by Michigan control.