STARS TO WATCH AT THIS WEEKEND'S FINA/ARENA WORLD CUP

Ian Hanson runs his microscope over the fields and has come up with ten swimmers to watch over what is sure to be an exciting weekend at the third round of the FINA/ARENA World Cup at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

OUSSAMA MELLOULI (Tunisia): Olympic champion over 1500 metres freestyle in Beijing, who has spent six years at the University of Southern California. Has already chalked up eight wins in the opening two round of the FINA/ARENA World Cup. Will be the one to watch in the 400 and 1500m freestyle and the 400m individual medley.

STEFAN NYSTRAND (Sweden): An Olympic finalist in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle and the world record holder for 100 metres freestyle short course. The winner of the 50 metres freestyle in round two of the World Cup in Durban. Looks the man to beat in the 50 and 100m freestyle.

MARIEKE GUEHRER (Australia): The Athens Olympic backstroker is showing her flip side and is certainly proving to be a smash hit in butterfly and freestyle, chalking up five victories already in the opening two rounds of the World Cup. The current Series leader who will be hard to keep at bay in the butterfly sprints.

CHRISTIAN SPRENGER (Australia): The voice of the Australian Swimming team song during the Beijing Games who has struck a chord in the opening World Cup rounds, winning the 50, 100 and 200 metres breaststroke treble in Belo Horizonte before winning the 200m in Durban. Leads the men's World Cup standings but fasces Olympic team mate Brenton Rickard in Sydney.

ELLEN FULLERTON (Australia): The talk of the town after her medley treble at the Telstra Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne, winning the 100, 200 and 400 IMs and erasing Stephanie Rice and Brooke Hanson's names from the record books. Will be the one to beat in the medleys as she chases her first World Cup medals.

ROBERT HURLEY (Australia): Faces up to Oussama Mellouli in the 400m freestyle after winning the event at this year's Telstra Australian Championships. Also chasing podium finishes in the 100 and 200 metres backstroke and 200m freestyle. A card sharp who will look to come up trumps.

BRONTE BARRATT (Australia): A member of Australia's all-conquering  4x200m freestyle relay team from Beijing, who is back chasing more medals in the Sydney World Cup in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle. Only one of two Australians to crack the four-minute barrier for 400m freestyle.

LEITH BRODIE (Australia): Out of the same John Rodgers stable as Bronte Barratt who is Australia's best IM exponent and will be hard to beat over the 100 and 200 medley, where he will also meet Oussama Mellouli.

MATT JAUKOVIC (Australia): The surprise packet of the Telstra Australian Championships, with his Australian All-comers records in the 50 and 100 metres butterfly. Came close to the world record in the 50 metres butterfly to earn a place on the Australian team for the European World Cup legs.

JADE EDMISTONE (Australia): One of the fastest sprint breaststrokers in the world who won the World Short Course Championship over 50m in Shanghai in 2006 and the World Long Course Championship over 50m in Montreal in 2005. On the comeback trail after a switch of coaches in 2008. The one to watch in the 50 and 100m breaststrokes.