For the first time since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Australian track and field selection trials will be held separately from the national championships next year.

Coaches have had their wishes granted, with the trials to be held at the new Victorian State Athletics Centre at Albert Park on March 2-4, the weekend before the world indoor championships in Istanbul.

The nationals are from April 13-15 in Melbourne, but participation is optional for those already selected for the Olympic team.

This gives Australia's best medal hopes such as Steve Hooker, Sally Pearson and Dani Samuels the chance to take a break before moving into their final preparation phase for the London Games starting on July 27.

"It makes a huge difference," Athletics Australia national high performance manager Eric Hollingsworth said on Friday.

"It's not necessarily about qualification.

"It's being able to get our top athletes to support the domestic season, fulfil their responsibilities as athletes to Australia but also give them enough to re-set before the London Games.

"The top coaches work to very specific timings .

"Being able to finish off by March 10, which is the world indoors, they want to put their guys to sleep for a little while before starting to build up and being ready for the Olympic Games.

"Obviously the focus is the six medals in the Olympic Games and these guys are the ones who are going to do the job in London for us."

The trials on March 2-4 will be in conjunction with Melbourne's IAAF Challenge meet.

Athletes can still be pre-selected for London if they record a top-eight finish at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, later this year.

Back in 2000, the Olympic trials were held in Sydney approximately a month before the home Games.

John Salvado
AAP