Campbell to inspire relay tilt

Michael Phelps may not be at this week's world swimming championships in Russia but he is still making his presence felt with Australia's sprint queen Cate Campbell.

World champion Campbell is expected to help launch Australia's medal surge in Kazan by inspiring the world record-breaking 4x100m freestyle relay team on Sunday's opening night.

American superstar Phelps is not at the world titles due to a drink driving charge.

But he was not far from Campbell's thoughts as she contemplated what was expected to be a blistering relay final.

Campbell, 23, said she was still inspired by Phelps' last gasp finish in the 2008 100m butterfly final that secured his seventh Olympic gold at Beijing - her first Games.

She is not motivated by setting goal times ahead of a major meet but thanks to Phelps she does have a world titles mantra.

"If you believe you can get there miracles do happen," she said.

"You look at Phelps in that 100 'fly in '08.

"He shouldn't have won that race but he did - it came down to self belief.

"It's about never giving up until your hand is on the wall."

In the relay, Campbell will combine with younger sister Bronte Campbell, Melanie Wright (nee Schlanger) and Emma McKeon - all ranked in the world 100m top six this year.

Campbell shares the year's fastest time (52.69 seconds) with flying Dutchwoman Femke Heemskerk, with Swede Sarah Sjostrom (52.97) world No.4-ranked sister Bronte (53.04) not far behind.

"We push each other to our limits," Campbell said of training with her sister in Brisbane.

"It will be great getting out there and racing first off on Sunday night.

"We always look forward to racing together rather than against each other."

The Australian women's relay team won the country's solitary Olympic gold in the London pool and set a new world record (three minutes, 30.98 seconds) at last year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

"I have no expectations, that's not how I operate," Campbell said of her world titles campaign.

"Others stick goal times on the wall and strive to get that but I have never been one of those people.

"I am here for the love of it, not to achieve certain things."

Australia's other major medal hope on the eight day titles' opening night is world No.1 ranked Mack Horton in the 400m freestyle despite controversial Chinese champion Sun Yang's presence.

Olympic and world champion Sun Yang served a three month doping ban last year.

Meanwhile, the open water program concluded with Gold Coast lifesaver Sam Sheppard finishing sixth in the the 25km event in the Kazanka River.

London Olympian Jarrod Poort was 17th while debutants Jess Walker (12th) and Chelsea Gubecka (13) just missed a top 10 finish in the women's race.

Australia failed to earn a medal in the open water's 5km, 10km and 25km events.