Home fans 'will hand China edge'

The home crowds will give Chinese swimmers the edge at the Water Cube during the Beijing Games says Australian double 1,500 metres Olympic gold medallist Kieren Perkins.

'The host nation always performs well. This has been seen in the past and I believe China will do well in the pool because of the home crowd advantage,' said Perkins, who shared his Olympic experience with the Australian community and young Hong Kong swimmers on Thursday night.

Perkins, who retired after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said he had personally experienced the feeling of being buoyed by the home fans and said it would not be any different for the Chinese swimmers in Beijing this summer.

'They will be a force to reckon with. They will have the fans' support at the Water Cube and this is always significant. I expect them to perform well,' said the 34-year-old. But one event which he expects Australia to rule is the men's 1,500 metres freestyle - the event he made his own at the 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta) Olympics - where his rival and teammate Grant Hackett will star.

'Of course Hackett will win it. He is an amazing athlete and I have never met another swimmer as mentally tough as Grant. He will become the first male swimmer to win three Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 metres,' predicted Perkins.

Perkins was on target to achieve this remarkable feat at the Sydney Games, but was beaten by Hackett and had to settle for the silver.