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With Niall McGill

The cheering crowds will be absent.

But Perth swimmer Stephen Milne will be as motivated as ever to power through the water at pace alongside the country’s best.

Next week the hard-working 26-year-old will attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at the British Swimming Selection Trials in London.

The London Aquatics Centre will be quieter than normal when the top event rolls into town due to the ongoing fight against coronavirus.

No spectators will be in the stands and the experience will be a different one.

While Milne is disappointed that friends, family and swimming fans will be unable to attend, his excitement and determination remains.

“It’s always nice to have the crowd, especially when you hear them through the race as it gets more and more exciting,” he said.

“But the swimmers are all there for the same reason and that is to do the best we can.

“Even with the lack of crowd, I will still be as motivated and determined to be the best I can.

“You still get the butterflies in the stomach even though there isn’t the crowd to cheer you on. It is still very competitive.”

On his pre-race build-up, Milne added: “I have a checklist of things I want to execute in the race, usually technical points.

“The rest of the time it’s letting the heart-rate go fast as I get more and more excited.

“It’s letting out the emotion of being excited and the adrenaline rush you get knowing that you are going to need to swim fast.

“I let that carry me up to the blocks and, when the buzzer goes, it’s about executing the plan through the race.”

Milne will be competing in the 400m, 200m and 100m freestyle at the selection trials.

“There is definitely going to be a certain level that I will need to perform at,” he told the PA.

“I know that. I know what is expected of me.

“The depth of competition in the UK right now is really strong. That is good. It is what competition is all about.

“It’s not going to be easy. I know what I have to do and that is just to swim really fast. Everyone else is going to.

“I hope to and will be doing the very best I can. It is the biggest British event on the calendar - something I always