Rhayader’s Tom Marshall will run in the first heat of the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games in the early hours of Friday.
The 28-year-old, former Brecon Athletics Club athlete, is, on paper, the sixth fastest of the nine starters in the first of two heats.
To make sure of their place in Saturday’s final athletes must finish in the top four in their heat or hope to qualify as one of four fastest finishers.
Marshall faces Kenyan champion Timothy Cheruiyot, who won the world silver medal in London last year, in his heat as well as Kenya’s 2016 world junior champion Kumari Taki.
Australian champion Ryan Gregson and countryman Luke Mathews, who will be strong favourites with the crowd on the Gold Coast, are also in the same heat as is Scotland’s Chris O’Hare a finalist at last year’s world championships.
The race takes place at 2.35am UK time which is 11.35 in Australia.
Tom will be cheered on at the 40,000 capacity Carrara Stadium by his mum Janet and girlfriend Zoe Williams.
Dad Meyrick will be cheering at home in Rhayader. He said: "It will be quite nerve-wracking. I hope he gets to the final, he will be chuffed to bits and you’ve got to be in it to win it. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed."