Cameron van der Burgh, the South African who clocked 27.49 and 1:01.12 over 50 and 100m breaststroke this past year is at the helm of a talented pack ready to challenge his national supremacy.

William Diering and Thabang Moeketsane will take him on at the first round of the Samsung Swimming Grand Prix at the Delville swimming pool in Germiston tomorrow, Saturday, February 16.

'The addition of the Samsung Swimming Grand Prix series with galas to be held in Deville and at the University of the Western Cape [on February 23-24] has created more opportunities for SA's top swimmers to build their preparations towards swimming fast times in this Olympic year. I certainly won?t be taking any chances as there is too much talent out there just waiting to take me down and it?s this sort of competition that is great news for the future of swimming in our country. I enjoy strong competition as the more the guys push me, the faster I will go.'

On backstroke, George du Rand will try to keep at bay Garth Tune, 17, their best times of the season 55.95 and 56.45 respectively. Like Tune, Wesley Gilchrist is coming up through the ranks. Selected to race at the World Short-Course Championships in Manchester in April, he will provide a challenge to Shaun Harris in the 50m freestyle.

And watch for Riaan Schoeman, one of the fastest improvers in the world on medley on his way down to the 4:10 mark in the not too distant future over 400m. He will race 200m at the Delville pool.