Walsh (22) is one of a bunch of high profile athletes competing in the South Island Championships at the Caledonian today and tomorrow.
The South Canterbury shot putter, who works as a builder in Christchurch, won silver in Glasgow earlier in the year with a 21.19m put.
However, with plenty of time to peak before the New Zealand and Australian championships next year, Walsh will compete only in the discus.
National champion Marshall Hall (Otago), who is coached by Raylene Bates, is the firm favourite to win the 1.75kg discus event with a 58.25m PB (2kg).
Walsh's 1.75kg PB is 52.15m. Women's national 100m champion Fiona Morrison (26, Canterbury) has also come to Dunedin to compete.
Her battle with Larissa Dyke (29, Otago), who now trains in Auckland, in the 100m and 60m sprints should go down to the wire, while Fiona Hely (26, Otago) should also put up a good fight.
Morrison is also the national 100m hurdles champion and should have no problem winning the open women's race.
Danica Davies (17, Otago), a national secondary schools gold medallist in the senior girls shot put last weekend, should be too good for Cantabrians Larissa McKewen (16) and Ngarama O'Keefe (15) in the youth shot put.
Davies put a 14.32m PB in Wanganui last weekend and will be full of confidence heading into today's event.
The men's open 400m race could be the highlight of the weekend, as three Otago runners - Andrew Whyte (21), Daniel O'Shea (25) and Ben Anderson (23) - go head-to-head for the first time this season.
Whyte boats the fastest PB of the three (46.25sec), but O'Shea (47.04sec) is not far behind.
While the 400m is not Anderson's favoured event, he is the 1500m frontrunner on the back of his form in the event so far this season.
He set a 3min 52.26sec PB at the Caledonian Ground last month, but with Sam Bremer (19, Otago) back in the mix after a string of stress fractures kept him off the track, Anderson will have his work cut out for him.
Neither is entered in the 3000m. Unlike Oli Chignell (16, Otago), who finished fourth in the 6km road race in Wanganui last weekend.
His tussle with Jack Beaumont's (17, Southland) in the men's youth 3000m will be one to look out for.
Other athletes to watch are. -Hanna English in the youth 1500m and 3000m.
Rozie Robinson, formerly of Otago, representing Canterbury in the 3km track walk.
Felix McDonald in the men's youth 110m and 400m hurdles.
James Sandilands and Jack Henry in the men's open 110m hurdles.
Madaline Spence in the women's youth 300m hurdle.
Hammer throwers Lauren Bruce, Nicole Bradley and Bradley Tarleton.
- Robert van Royen
