Geraint Thomas is optimistic Great Britain's team pursuit squad have plenty of margin for improvement ahead of the London Olympic Games.
Qualifying in the four-man, four-kilometre event opens at the Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne on Wednesday, where Thomas and his team-mates will be able to measure their progress against the hosts.
Australia took pole position in February's Track World Cup in London, but despite that result Thomas believes Britain are building towards a successful defence of their Olympic title in August.
"It wasn't a shock," Thomas said. "It's time to worry a bit when you don't know why you're not firing on all cylinders.
"We know why and it's always been part of the plan. August 2 and 3 is when we want to be firing on all cylinders and at our best."
Australia's London World Cup win in 3mins 54.615secs was the third fastest time in history, stating their intent, and they are favourites at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
Thomas, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Pete Kennaugh combined to post 3:56.330 in London, just 0.008secs behind the time set by the Olympic-winning quartet at the World Championships in Manchester in 2008, but it was an error-strewn display.
Burke is set to be replaced by Andy Tennant in Melbourne - a late call-up after being omitted from the original squad - with Ben Swift, who is also in contention for an Olympic place, riding the non-Games scratch race.
Thomas does not believe there is a major psychological advantage ahead of the Games for the team which claims the world champions' rainbow jerseys this week, with Russia and New Zealand also vying for the title.
"It would be a massive buzz, but it's not the be-all and end-all," Thomas said. "If we ended up fourth in the worlds and winning the Games, I'd take that."