Even a year out Rio will be a transition Games for the rebuilding Australian athletics team, according to new head coach Craig Hilliard.
"We are in a rebuilding, transition phase. It's exciting, the four years post-Rio. We have some older athletes we really expect big things from still in Rio and younger athletes that we are wanting to experience the Games and set themselves up for the four years after," Hilliard said. 
Before Rio comes the world championships in Beijing this month, which will be an important pointer for some athletes to next year's Olympics.
Australia's most bankable medal hopes - world and Olympic champion hurdler Sally Pearson and champion race walker Jared Tallent - will not be in Beijing.
Pearson is recovering from a broken wrist from a stumble in Europe. Her form prior to the injury, coming off hamstring trouble, was still below her normal standard but she was improving. Meticulously building herself back to peak form for Rio will be a painstaking process.
"We are starting to get into rarefied air with athletes like Sally and Jared, going into their third Olympics and for us to be expecting medals from them is a tough ask but they are two of our greatest athletes," Hilliard said.
One of Australia's best athletes, Mitch Watt, has barely been sighted since his long jump silver at the London Olympics. He remains a remote chance of yet qualifying for Beijing. He will jump in the next week in the hope of yet recording a qualifying distance. 
"Mitch is frustrated but he is happy with how he is going in Phoenix now. He has ongoing issues with his Achilles-calf complex. He is not 100 per cent, he never will be, but he is fit and training. Whether he is long jump specific fit is the question," he said. "He is an athlete who even at 90 per cent fit can win a medal."
Triple and long jumper Henry Frayne, a silver medallist at the world indoors, is also still hoping to qualify for Beijing. World champion discus thrower Dani Samuels and world silver medal winning javelin thrower Kim Mickle have both been throwing well this year and are positioned for the dais in Beijing, which is a positive sign for Rio beyond that. Of the next generation Australia will hope to build a sprint relay team including Jack Hale. Teenage Commonwealth gold medallist high jumper Eleanor Patterson will experience the next step up in Beijing. Steve Solomon has deferred studies in the US to return to Australia to focus on Rio. Having overcome hamstring injuries the 400m runner is now training in Canberra. 
Sprint record holder Melissa Breen will hope to answer critics of her ability to perform at major championships in Beijing.