With that record still unbeaten, five-time Coast to Coast champion Ussher (37) is a hot favourite among the elite field taking on this year's 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run tomorrow.
Although his return to the event is also the first time he has competed in long-distance triathlon in several years, Ussher feels ''100%'' ready following a three-month forced recovery from the October 2012 Xterra world championships build-up.
''I just totally overcooked it. A combination of that and years and years of the general thrashing the body, I sort of fell off the proverbial cliff, really,'' Ussher said yesterday.
''The last year's been about bringing my health back up and bringing the energy back up. It takes a long time, especially when you rely on the sport for your living.
''It's been really quite refreshing training for something different again and that was part of the decision to come back here. It just seemed like a good challenge at the right time.''
Revisiting Challenge Wanaka had ''always been on the list'' for Ussher, who will also compete in next month's Coast to Coast before some well-deserved time off.
''I needed to get back in and do this race one more time before I fade into obscurity.''
In fact, he ''definitely wouldn't discount'' returning a third time, particularly if things go his way this weekend.
''I'll definitely be going out there to cause a bit of havoc and see if I can get another win on there, but it all just comes down to the day and everyone's looking lean and fit, so you've just got to hope that you've got the formula ... a little bit better than everyone on the day.
''If the conditions are what they're forecast to be I think the record could well go, if not by me, I think by someone else.''
Fellow multisporter and long distance triathlon newcomer Dougal Allan (28), of Albert Town, was the ''big unknown'' in Saturday's race, Ussher said.
''He's got absolutely nothing to lose. He's got no pressure on him. He's a really talented cyclist and he's a really good runner ... not many people know that.''
Allan, whose weakest leg is the swim, said although he expected to be the ''tail-end marshal'' in the water, long-distance triathlon was a sport that suited people who could chase, ''and I'm certainly going to have some chasing to do, coming out of the lake''.
While new to the event, his key advantage as a local athlete was familiarity with the course, he said.
''I sort of know every gust of wind and every tree root along the run.''
Ussher and Allan face some stiff competition, including defending champion Dylan McNeice (28), who says he is feeling the best prepared he has been for a race.
''This time last year [before Challenge Wanaka 2013] I was thinking about throwing in the towel ... I wasn't enjoying it that much but I'm still in the sport and I'm enjoying it more than ever,'' McNeice said.
Also in the elite men's race are 2013 Challenge Penticton winner Jeffrey Symonds (Canada), runner-up Scott DeFilippis (US), Keegan Williams (Hamilton) who has achieved podium positions at Challenge Wanaka, Challenge Roth, Challenge Copenhagen and Ironman New Zealand, Courtney Ogden and Tim Beardall (both Australia) and Jaroslav Kovacic, a member of the Slovenian triathlon team for the last five years.
Challenging women's course record holder and five-time winner Gina Crawford, of Albert Town, are high-calibre pros including Candice Hammond (Cambridge), Tamsyn Hayes (Dunedin), multiple iron distance champion Carrie Lester (Australia) and Wanaka-based endurance athlete Simone Maier (Germany), who is seeking to improve her best finish, second place in 2011.
