Alistair Brownlee will step up his preparations for the Olympics with his first World Triathlon Series race of the season in Kitzbuhel this weekend.
The 24-year-old has not competed at elite level since winning his second world title in China in September after tearing his Achilles in February.
Brownlee feared his chances of competing in the Olympics in London this summer might be over but his recovery has gone well and he will hope to reassert his status as gold medal favourite when he races on Sunday.
The Yorkshireman has dominated the sport over the past three years, winning 11 of his 15 world series races and two world titles, and he is looking for his third victory in Kitzbuhel in four years.
Brownlee returned to racing two weeks ago at the Blenheim Triathlon but this will be his first race over the Olympic distance.
He said: "It was a big relief to race at Blenheim. I know I've got over my injury but you're never sure how that step up to racing is going to go. Obviously it wasn't really a very high-class field so it'll be more relief when I get this race out of the way. That was one step on the road and hopefully this will be the next step.
"There's always going to be nerves going into a race, especially when you haven't raced at that level for nine months, and then the injury, but I think I'm getting there. I know I'm in pretty decent shape, I've just got to do the small things right."
In Brownlee's absence his younger brother Jonny has taken centre stage, winning races in San Diego and Madrid.
The pair live and train together in a village near Leeds, and Jonny's performances have been a welcome boost for Alistair.
He said: "It's good seeing Jonny going out there and racing because obviously I'm proud of him and it's good to see him do it, and then when he comes back and he's winning races I know I've got a bit of a level to compare myself to, and that's important."