COUNTDOWN ON FOR KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRON MAN FINAL

February 16: Coogee Beach, Sunday February 22 - 12noon Beach Activities, 1pm Race Start

The countdown to Sunday's 2009 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Iron Man final is on in earnest with 36 of Australia's finest surf sports competitors ready to converge on Coogee Beach.

A massive crowd is expected to turn out at the Coogee amphitheatre to witness one of Surf Life Saving's premier days of elite competition.

The elimination format is one of the most exciting on the surf sports event schedule and one mistake could well spell disaster.

The two stories of the week centre around the Shannon Eckstein-Zane Holmes show in the men's and the likely crowning of a new champion in the women's event.

In the men's, three-time Series winner Eckstein (69) holds a three point lead over defending champion, training partner and Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish team mate Holmes (66), with Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers young gun Matt Poole (59) in third.

Naomi Flood (Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers) leads the women's Series on 57 points ahead of team mate Courtney Hancock (51) and Kristyl Smith (Express Glass Southern Blue Fins) who sits in third on 49, with defending champion Elizabeth Pluimers (Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish) next on 45.

But with the final worth double points, not even Eckstein and Flood are assured of victory.

Eckstein and Holmes have established one of surf sports greatest rivalries over the past decade and it is certain to go right down to the wire this Sunday from 1 pm at Coogee.

Eckstein has not finished out of a place in all four rounds - winning rounds one and three at Kurrawa and Coolum respectively and finishing second to Holmes in round two at Kurrawa and third to Poole in round four at Coolum.

"I had probably one of the worst races of my career in last year's final and I hadn't finished worse than fourth all year," said Eckstein.

"Consistency is the name of the game in this Series and I knew I needed a good off-season in the pool to match it with Zane and I've done that but the final is worth double points so there is no relaxing.

"I have to go to Coogee and do it on the day but I would love nothing more than to have that Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series trophy on my mantle piece."

Flood is pumped for a big week after a rare weekend off.

"Last week was amazing - victory in round four, named in the Australian team for South Africa on Monday and as NSW State team co-captain on Thursday," said Flood.

"It was good to have a weekend off - sleep in and go to a three-year-old's birthday party and just be normal.

"I'm holding a six point lead going into the final round. I just need to have a mistake free day and the rest will take care of itself.

"I know I have done the work, I am stronger and have worked on my weaknesses - I just have to keep it going - but I'm excited and looking forward to the week."

A Series win for Flood will be another major box ticked in an already extraordinary career, which has seen her win the Australian crown in 2006 and the World title in 2008.