Water Polo: Merewether's Richie Campbell approaches possible fourth and final Olympic campaign while New Lambton's Nathan Power aims for Games debut

Having grown up playing water polo at Lambton Pool, Croatia-based Power and now Sydney resident Campbell have their sights set on representing Australia at this year's Games in Tokyo.

Power is looking to make his Olympic debut, with injury ending his 2016 run before it even begun, while Campbell is eyeing off a fourth and maybe final campaign having already been to Beijing, London and Rio.

"It's like you're starting from scratch again," Campbell told the Newcastle Herald.

"It kind of feels like, whatever you've done in the past you haven't done it before. Even though I know I have.

"Every cycle, every Olympics is always different. You're learning from previous experiences so you take it as if it's a new approach."

Having gone to his first Games over a decade ago, the Merewether-raised 32-year-old knows he's closer to the end of his career than the start and Campbell wants to make the most of Tokyo.

"I don't feel threatened by any opponent [now], I feel pretty confident my experience will get me through this year and hopefully we can get a good result," he said.

"There's no room to leave anything on the table. You've got to have a go. At the same time I'm thinking maybe this is probably going to be my last one and last time I'm going to play the sport as well for a little while or [at least] competing at a high level.

"In the past you kind of worry about oppositions and worry about what other teams are doing.

"Personally I've got to focus on myself, getting the body right and getting the feeling right within the team.

"It's pretty exciting because I think we've got the team that can get a good result."

New Lambton-bred Power, who turns 27 next month and in the midst of his fourth season overseas, said the "motivation to try and not only be there [Olympics] but achieve something is always at maximum irrespective of what happened in the past because it's the pinnacle of sport".

As preparations towards the upcoming Games continue, the Sharks have a three-Test series against the US in Brisbane from Tuesday.

"Just saying 2020, it means we're on now," Campbell said.

Australia, who are set to qualify for the 12-team competition at Tokyo via the Oceania ticket, will announce its final Olympic squad in the coming months.

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