TRIATHLON: Australian Ashleigh Gentle will join an exclusive club if she can claim a third Noosa Triathlon crown on Sunday.

Only the great Emma Snowsill - who won Australian's most iconic triathlon five times in a dominant six-year span from 2003-08 - and pioneer Liz Hepple back in the 1980s have won the women's event three times or more.

"I wasn't aware of that but it would really mean a lot to me - winning here for a third time," the 24-year-old Gentle said on Friday.

"Noosa is such a special event - one really close to my heart and something I love doing each year.

"To be in the history books in that regard would be pretty special."

Gentle and 2013 Noosa winner Emma Moffatt already have one eye on the Rio Olympics - and more specifically the key qualifying race on the Gold Coast in April next year.

But if any edge can be gained this weekend in Noosa then so much the better.

"Moffy and I are great mates, but we're pretty competitive too in a friendly way," said Gentle, who was edged out by Moffatt at last weekend's Nepean Triathlon.

"As much as she wants to win here again, I do too, so I think it will be a really great race."

The injured Aaron Royle is the only Australian triathlete to have already locked down a spot on the 2016 Olympic team, courtesy of a sixth-placed finish in the men's race at the Rio test event in August.

Gentle is chasing a first Games berth, while the 31-year-old Moffatt could become Australia's first three-time Olympic triathlete if she can claim one of the qualifying spots on offer.

"Although this race in Noosa has no official bearing on Olympic selection, as athletes it can help us gauge where we at physically and mentally," said Moffatt, the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist.

"For a lot of us, it's the end of a long season of racing internationally.

"In a way we can come back here and race without the pressure.

"But it's still going to be hard and a good indicator of what we need to do next year."

Under-23 world champion Jake Birtwhistle has assumed favouritism in the men's event after Royle, the 2013 and 2014 Noosa winner, was forced to withdraw due to a torn calf muscle.

The field also includes fellow Australian Olympic hopefuls Peter Kerr and Ryan Fisher.
THE QUEENS OF THE NOOSA TRIATHLON

5: Emma Snowsill (Aus) - (2003-05, 2007-08)

3: Liz Hepple (Aus) - (1983, 1989-90)

2: Rina Bradshaw (Aus), Carol Montgomery (Can), Emma Carney (Aus), Loretta Harrop (Aus), Ashleigh Gentle (Aus)

AAP