The 2011 and 2013 Champion will become just the second women, behind Karla Gilbert, to win three national ironwoman crowns. 

“The ironwoman is the one everyone wants to win,” she said.

“I’ve really been wanting to win a third and that’s something I’ve been trying to get for the past few years."

However, it has been a tough season for the 28-year-old after finishing tenth overall in the Ocean 6 Nutri-Grain ironwoman series and third in the State ironwoman final.

"It's been a really slow reason for me," Hancock said.

"There have been a few results I haven't been overly happy with.

"In the back end of the season, I've really picked up and I'm where I want to be so I've done everything I possibly can to get myself as fit as I can for next week."

The Australian Open Surf Life Saving Championships returns to Queensland's Gold Coast after the 2018 event took place in Western Australia.

So after travelling to Perth last year, Hancock is excited to host surf lifesaving’s biggest stage just a few hundred metres away from her home club.

"It's a different feeling, I think when the Australian titles are at home and you're staying at your own house, it's a weird feeling and also training down the road is a huge advantage going into next week," she said

The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships kick start this weekend on the Gold Coast with the Youth event.