Brisbane, Australia, March 31, 2018 (News agencies) - Australia's world hurdles champion Sally Pearson said on Saturday she was "90 percent" certain of competing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as she battles an Achilles' problem. Pearson hasn't raced over the hurdles since early March but is targeting the 100-metres hurdles heats on April 12. "I'd be 90 percent (certain for the hurdles). It will be an issue all the way through (to a final)," the 31-year-old told reporters in Brisbane. "I don't think the pain will affect my performance. I'll be able to block it out as much as possible. "It's not going to be a controlled race - it's going to be all-out. It has to be." Injuries have been a constant for Pearson, who suffered a broken wrist from a race fall which derailed her 2015 world titles campaign, while a hamstring problem hit her 2016 Rio Olympics hopes. Last year Pearson claimed a second 100m hurdles world title in London. "I was thinking the other day if this was my first major (event, with such a preparation), I ́d be struggling a bit more," Pearson said. "All my big decisions have helped me to cope with this competition, even though there is more spotlight and pressure being in my home town. "I'm dealing with it well and staying relaxed. "It's a matter of what my body wants to do on the day and that ́s pretty much going to make my decision for me." Pearson said she plans to train on Monday or Tuesday after running in a 100m-flat leg in an Australian relay team earlier this week in Brisbane. Against Pearson, who has a 12.28 sec personal best, Jamaica has entered for the Games 100m hurdles three competitors with a sub-12.7 sec personal best, including 2015 world champion Danielle Williams (12.57). Experienced Australian head coach Craig Hilliard said the team co-captain's composure this week had further steeled the young side. "That's one of her great qualities; it's very inspirational, her and (fellow co-captain) Kurt (Fearnley) are two of the greatest leaders we've got in our sport," he said. "To see Sally, how she approaches these things, how you deal with them and how you cope with them ... to still be upbeat and talk and deal with the other athletes is really important." Pearson mingled with the squad but didn't take to the track when Australia's athletics team trained at Brisbane's Nudgee College on Saturday. She will aim to complete four hurdles sessions before racing. "I'm probably 90 per cent there," she said. "It's going to be an issue all the way through; it's a matter of how much pain I can be out of when I race. "That's the main focus, getting me out of pain." Pearson isn't focusing on her rivals and admits she's unsure who will compete in her event, aside from in-form Jamaican Megan Simmonds. There won't be any holding back though, with Pearson promising to show her trademark tenacity at Carrara Stadium. "I'll be able to block it out as much as possible; nothing's going to be controlled, it's going to be all out," she said. "If the main competitors come out it's not going to be an easy race to try and win." Meanwhile, England's powerhouse Adam Peaty will expect to extend his winning streak and could even test his breaststroke world records when he stars alongside a strong Australian team at the Commonwealth Games. Peaty, 23, the Olympic, world, European and Commonwealthchampion, headlines the swimming programme in the outdoor Southport Aquatic Centre, where he will put his near four-year unbeaten record on the line. The 50m and 100m breaststroke world record-holder will be the hot favourite to add to the two gold medals he won in Glasgow four years ago in his first major success. Peaty will also be attempting to become the first to go under the 57-second mark in the 100m after shattering his own world record with 57.13sec in winning Olympic gold at Rio two years ago. "Hopefully I will get near my world records but I won't be at a loss if I don't because the Europeans (championships) are around the corner as well," he said. "This will hopefully be my fourth year undefeated so it is something to celebrate," added Peaty, who was last beaten before the 2014 Games. "I am looking forward to the competition and seeing who is popping out there. But at the same time it is a bit of fun." While eyes will be on Peaty's performances, the Australians are looking to continue their dominance in the pool at their home Commonwealth Games. The Australians have topped the swimming medals table at every Games since they lost to hosts Canada at Edmonton in 1978, and are primed to continue that run on the Gold Coast. Australia will be spearheaded by Rio Olympic champions Kyle Chalmers and Mack Horton, along with rejuvenated former world champion Cate Campbell. Chalmers, who missed last year's world championships in Budapest to have surgery to correct a heart problem, claimed the 100m-200m freestyle double at this month's selection trials in the Games pool. He won the 100m final in 48.16 secs – his fastest time since Rio, where he swam 47.58 secs to win gold – while he also swam a personal best to claim the 200m national title. "It was the fastest I've been since the Olympics so now it's get prepared for the Games and fingers crossed I can go a bit faster," Chalmers said. Campbell, who took a year off swimming last year after a disappointing Rio Olympics, set a national record in winning the 50m freestyle at the trials, and beat her sister Bronte in the 100m event. It continued her strong form since returning to the pool after crashing out in Rio, where she was the 100m gold medal favourite but faded to sixth in the final. She gets her chance at some redemption with a crack at Canada's reigning Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak in front of her home fans. "It's great to go in knowing that you've been in really good form only a month earlier so it's definitely a good confidence booster," Campbell said. Horton will be aiming for the 400m and 1500m freestyle double at the Gold Coast, and will also try to win back the Commonwealth Games1500m crown for Australia. Australia owned the 1500m title from 1950 to 2002, winning it 12 consecutive times before the 52-year winning streak was ended by Welshman David Davies in Melbourne in 2006. Rising star Ariarne Titmus, 17, is another strong contender after becoming the first Australian woman in 14 years to win the distance freestyle treble – 200m, 400m and 800m at the trials. The South African Games squad includes four-time Olympic butterfly medallist Chad le Clos and former breaststroke world record-holder Cameron van der Burgh.
