It is the first race for Dodds since he broke his elbow in the New Plymouth world cup in March, an injury that forced the 26-year-old to miss the opening world series event in Auckland in April.
The slightly lower octane racing of the world cup race in Chengdu this weekend is the perfect way for Dodds to find his racing feet again and hit the reset button for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
''I can't wait to race this weekend. It has been six weeks out of action but I am healing up nicely.
''It is one of those things ... you know you are going well in training and have overcome the injury but you haven't really tested it out in race conditions. I am looking forward to it but there is that unknown.
''I have had two weeks of full training now and I am swimming back to normal but . . . that is just doing the endurance and timed stuff in the pool. Obviously, we will find out on the weekend when that gun goes.''
Dodds goes in with a number of race plan possibilities in his head, knowing the pressure of racing can do funny things.
He expects racing to be tough for everyone.
''It is a flat course. It is man-made specifically for triathlon, so it should be good. I want it to be a hard race. I want a breakaway and to be in it.
''If you come off the bike with a big bunch in an easy race, there are guys who you don't really know, but they can run a 30-minute 10km if you let them. The goal then is to make the bike as hard as I can and not let that happen.''
Dodds is the sole New Zealander in the elite men's race but three will wear the silver fern in the elite women's race, with Rebecca Clarke, Simone Ackermann and Fiona Crombie all lining up.
