Australia will take a larger-than-expected team to July's world titles in Shanghai after head coach Leigh Nugent relaxed his tough qualifying standards following the completion of the trials in Sydney on Friday.

Nugent had set the bar high with tough minimum qualifying times, set prior to the meet, looking set to keep several hopefuls off the team despite coming first or second in their events at the national titles.

But in a surprise backflip, Nugent on Friday night announced a 45-strong team with all first-and second-place getters in Olympic events named on the team, regardless of their times.

It means seven men and four women were named despite not meeting the minimum standard with the likes of Geoff Huegill, Sam Ashby, Jayden Hadler, Kenneth To, Katie Goldman and Sam Hamill all earning reprieves.

"The aim of setting our own qualifying times was to raise the standard of performance and competition nationally and we have certainly seen that in a number of events over the last eight days," Nugent said.

"With two Australian records and a handful of world class times, the performances bode well for the world championships in July and we have also selected the team with an eye to further developing athletes in the lead up to London.

"With this in mind, we have extended the selection criteria to include all available first- and second-place getters from Olympic events who have met the FINA qualifying times."

Nugent said earlier on Friday he was confident Australia would be heading to Shanghai with a strong team capable of restoring their place among the world's top swimming nations after finishing 2010 without a single swimmer ranked No.1 in their event.

He backed the introduction of the tough qualifying times, saying it would not be of benefit taking swimmers to the titles who were not ranked inside the top 12 in the world.

"When you've got to really rise to a higher standard it creates more pressure, that's what occurs when you're racing internationally and we've got to experience that here domestically," Nugent said.

"We're going to the Olympics next year and 12th in the world isn't going to cut it."

The surprising selection move will come as a welcome relief to the likes of Huegill, who was sweating on selection despite winning his first 100m butterfly title since 2004.

The squad features big names including Stephanie Rice, Eamon Sullivan, Brenton Rickard, Leisel Jones and Alicia Coutts and five new names including Olivia Halicek, a surprise winner in the 50m freestyle on the final night of competition.

Nugent said he had been thrilled by some of the breakout performances at the meet including young sprinter James Magnussen in the 100m freestyle, Kylie Palmer and Bronte Barratt in the women's freestyle events and backstroker Belinda Hocking.

"You know when you've got a team moving forward the year before the Olympics then you're likely to get progression and we've experienced that here this week," he said.

Australian Swim Team for FINA World Championships – Shanghai, China 24-31 July
MEN (22): Matthew Abood, Sam Ashby, Craig Calder, Ashley Delaney, Tommaso D’Orsogna, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, Jayden Hadler, Geoff Huegill, Jarrod Killey, Mitchell Larkin, James Magnussen, Kenrick Monk, Ryan Napoleon, Travis Nederpelt, Brenton Rickard, James Roberts, Christian Sprenger, Hayden Stoeckel, Eamon Sullivan, Matthew Targett, Kenneth To, Ben Treffers
WOMEN (23): Jessica Ashwood, Angie Bainbridge, Bronte Barratt, Alicia Coutts, Merindah Dingjan, Blair Evans, Sally Foster, Katie Goldman, Melissa Gorman, Olivia Halicek, Samantha Hamill, Belinda Hocking, Leisel Jones, Rebecca Kemp, Yolane Kukla, Meagen Nay, Jade Neilsen, Kylie Palmer, Leiston Pickett, Stephanie Rice, Jessicah Schipper, Emily Seebohm, Kelly Stubbins
OPEN WATER (8): Danielle DeFrancesco, Melissa Gorman*, Codie Grimsey, Trent Grimsey, Natasha Harrison, Ky Hurst, Rhys Mainstone, Bonnie MacDonald
HEAD COACH: Leigh Nugent
*Note: Melissa Gorman will compete in both pool and open water competition.

Liam FitzGibbon
AAP