Commonwealth Games branding is pictured on buildings in Birmingham, central England on July 26, 2022, ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Photo: AFP

Olympic champions Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon return to the pool at the Commonwealth Games with a gold rush and world records on their minds, heading an Australia swimming squad boasting "insane depth."

After a breakout Tokyo Olympics where she dethroned American great Katie Ledecky in the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle, the dominant Titmus carried her form into the Australian championships in May.

After narrowly missing the long-standing 200-meter world record set in 2009, she broke Ledecky's world mark over 400 meters by 0.06 seconds, touching in 3 minutes 56.40 seconds.

Titmus, 21, then opted out of the world championships in Budapest, saving herself for the Commonwealth Games, where she will be a red-hot favorite.

"I am so excited and I think we've got a great team going in. It's insane the depth we have," said Titmus, the Commonwealth Games 400-meter and 800-meter champion. 

That depth is illustrated by the inclusion of undisputed Olympic pool queen McKeon, who also missed the worlds.

The 28-year-old won a stunning seven medals in Tokyo and also boasts a phenomenal Commonwealth Games record - with eight gold and four bronze medals in two appearances at Glasgow in 2014 and the Gold Coast four years later.

McKeon has her sights set on beating the all-time record of 10 gold medals for an Australian, currently held jointly by fellow swimmers Ian Thorpe, Susie O'Neill and Leisel Jones.

She is again set to contest the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle, but has serious competition from teen sensation Mollie O'Callaghan, who stunned Swedish world record holder Sarah Sjostrom in Budapest to win the 100-meter free among her six medals.

McKeon said she would need to be at her best given the rapidly improving next generation.

"You never want to get too comfortable or complacent otherwise you're not going to keep working hard and keep striving to be better," she said.

The Commonwealth Games hold a special place in McKeon's heart, with her father Ron winning swimming golds in 1978 and 1982. Her mother, Susie Woodhouse, also competed in 1982.

Australia also boast Olympic and world backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown, while pop star Cody Simpson made the grade after returning from a decade away focusing on a music career during which he worked with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.

But teenage backstroke hope Isaac Cooper will be missing after he was sent home over "wellbeing challenges, including the use of medication."

Australia topped the overall medals table at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

As well as success in the pool, they will be eying more glory in cycling.

Australia, the top-ranked cycling nation at the past seven Commonwealth Games, were dominant in 2018, claiming 14 golds, but expect a tough challenge from host nation England.

Caleb Ewan and track specialist Matthew Glaetzer, who is aiming for a hat-trick of golds in the keirin, will head the field in Birmingham.

Sprint ace Ewan will target the road race on August 7, giving him plenty of time to freshen up after 2022's Tour de France.

Australia also have a strong athletics team spearheaded by newly crowned high jump world champion Eleanor Patterson.

AFP