“You would think they would let me off a bit because it is my birthday, but no it makes them even hungrier to beat the birthday boy,’’ joked Royle, who turns 27 on Thursday.

A two-time winner of the event, Royle’s ambitions for a third success face stiff competition from most notably Ryan Bailie and Jake Birtwhistle.

“I know those guys quite well and it is always a fun rivalry with those guys,’’ Royle said.

This was confirmed by rising star and Commonwealth Games hopeful Birtwhistle, who is gunning for his fourth straight Australia Day Aquathon win in Wollongong.

“I might give him a happy birthday later on and have a barbecue or something but at the end of the day it's a race and I won’t be giving that away,’’ he said.

The U/23 ITU World Champion enjoys a perfect record in the Wollongong race and likes his chances of winning again on January 26.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I was to go four from four but it’s not going to be easy,’’ Birtwhistle said.

“I’ve done well here before and I’ll be doing my best to win it for the fourth time straight and claim some bragging rights amongst the group.’’

The 22-year-old Tasmanian hopes to use the race to prepare for upcoming events in Abu Dhabi and the Gold Coast, with the latter also a Commonwealth Games qualifying race.

Training partner Royle is also building up his fitness ahead of Commonwealth Games’ selection races in April and July.

The Rio Olympian said his main priority over the next 18 months would be to qualify for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“I was very happy to finish ninth in Rio but now it is about getting to the Commonwealth Games,’’ Royle said.

“I’ve been on the ITU world triathlon series for a few years now so I think I might try some other type of races with a few half-Iron Man events thrown in as well. But the Games are definitely my main priority.’’