They are in the New Zealand team for the Junior Pan Pacific championships that start in Guam on January 8.
"They are in the middle of the power phase of training and we will be using the racing in Christchurch as power work this week," coach Andy Adair said from Christchurch yesterday.
"My philosophy has always been to continue the training through these championships and to put the edge of racing on top of the training."
The annual summer championships, over a short course, were introduced to the Swimming New Zealand racing programme three years ago.
The open competition gives younger swimmers the chance to test themselves against the best in the country.
New Zealand's Olympic swimmers will take their first dip back into competition.
The three-day meet is a litmus test not only for the Olympians but the next echelon to gauge their progress towards next year's goal of qualification for the world championships in Rome.
Otago has a team of 14 swimmers competing at the championships that will provide a barometer of how the younger group compare with the best on the national scene.
The two elite Otago swimmers have a heavy racing schedule, with Williams competing in seven individual events and three relays and Patience in six individual races and three relays.
Katie Kenneally (17), a member of coach Gennadiy Labara's Osca squad, is another who will be doing heavy training through the championships.
She has been selected in the New Zealand team for the Australian Youth Olympics at Sydney next month and will be competing in six individual events and two relays.
Her best prospects will be in the 100m, 200m and 400m individual medley events.
Otago swimmers who are tapering for the championships and expected to make their mark are Waves swimmers Rhys Applegarth (18) in the 50m butterfly and the 100m and 200m freestyle races and Rhys Pryde-Wall (17) in the 200m, 400m and 1500m freestyle events.
Pryde-Wall is the grandson of the late Terry Wall, who was a stalwart and secretary of Swimming Otago.
Thirteen-year-old Stephanie Gillespie (Waves), who won a bronze medal in the 1500m freestyle and was fifth in the 800m freestyle at the Pacific Schools Games at Canberra last week, will be testing herself against the older swimmers in the 400m and 800m freestyle races.
Phoebe O'Leary (Waves), who will not be competing at the championships, was fourth in the 1500m freestyle behind Gillespie at Canberra.
Osca swimmers peaking for the championships include Matthew Glassford (18) in the 400m freestyle, 100m, 200m and 400m individual medley and the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and Nick Tyrell (17) in seven individual events and two relays.
The 50m and 200m breaststroke could be his best events.
Former national coach Jan Cameron, who has a new role as general manager, performance and pathways, said the Beijing Olympic swimmers will be training through this week.
"This week is the first hit-out for the Beijing Olympic team and we are not expecting too much from them. But it's a chance to see just where they are at and what they have to work on," she said.
"We have a number of our best young swimmers preparing for competition next month who will be looking for good performances this week before they move into taper for the international events."
Southland's Natalie Wiegersma and West Auckland's Michael Jack, both impressive at the World Cup meets, are two Cameron believes can step up to the next level.
Moss Burmester, who finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics, will make his return to competition after a layoff.
