BUTTERFLY ace Tilly Gray is relishing the prospect of linking up with Wales for the Celtic Tri-Nations Championship this weekend.

The Loughborough-based swimmer, along with fellow Swindonian Jazz Carlin, is part of the 29-strong squad that faces Scotland and Ireland in East Kilbride over the next three days.

The former Swindon Dolphin flyer will swim in the 100m and 200m with the option of the fly leg in the medley relay, and she says bringing the squad together for the event will give an indication of what to expect at the Commonwealth Games next year - for those who make the cut.

“Wales have pretty much have the whole Commonwealth team going and we will be able to get a feel for what it will be like in Glasgow,” said Gray.

“Normally when we compete it’s for our uni teams or our clubs, but when we go away we all pull together.

“I really love the squad, they are such a great bunch of people and I always swim well when I’m having fun.

“We’re going to be doing a lot more team stuff from now on and we’re going away to California for a camp over the summer.

“For this weekend I just want to post some good swims and practise everything I’m going to do at (world) trials in June.

“I know it won’t be a great swim because I’m in such hard training at the moment. Me and my coach have said the times are irrelevant because I’m so fatigued.

“My body has changed quite a lot and I’m a lot more muscular so I fatigue a lot quicker, which sounds ridiculous, but I really mean it when I say I have no expectations this time.”

Gray’s final competitive racing before the British Gas Championships - which double as World Championship trials - is an open meet in Edinburgh in a fortnight.

“At the start of the year I didn’t think it would be possible to make worlds, but we’re going to have to see what happens,” said Gray.

“World trials will be the pinnacle of my season but there’s Commonwealth trials two months after that (swimmers can also qualify at US Nationals).

“Trials are the be-all and end-all at the time but I’m still only 0.3 seconds off the Commonwealth qualifying time.”

Away from training and competition in the pool, Gray is currently doing work experience with British Swimming at their Loughborough base.

The 21-year-old is involved with various projects and government initiatives that are coordinated by the authority.