Anneliese Heard has been handed a massive boost with the news that she has been included in this year's World Class Performance squad.

Heard will make up a 12 strong-squad which also includes fellow Welsh triathletes Leanda Cave and Marc Jenkins.

"I knew I had met the criteria towards the end of last season," said Heard, "but there were some rumours going around that the squad would be cut so I wasn't 100 per cent sure of my inclusion, so it is great news."

Both Heard and former world champion Cave were unlucky to miss out on selection at last year's Olympics, injury and illness robbing them of their best form.

But Bridgend triathlon star Jenkins was eventually drafted in and despite finishing last due to a mechanical problem with his bike the 28-year will be looking to improve on his world ranking of 56.

The three Welsh triathletes will be joined in the world class squad by Paul Amey, Liz Blatchford, Julie Dibbens, Michelle Dillon, Tim Don, Stuart Hayes, Andrew Johns, Jodie Swallow and Andrea Whitcombe. With eight of the 12 having visited World Cup podia in the past two years there is considerable strength in depth.

However, there will also be a real clamour to step up a notch to break GB's championship medal drought of the past two years.

Tim Don, fourth at the World Championships, and Michelle Dillon, sixth at the Olympic Games, perhaps head the men's and women's line-ups, but with both world ranked number threes in the squad - Stuart Hayes and Liz Blatchford - focus on Gamagori's World Championships will be strong.

In announcing the World Class Performance squad, a British Triathlon Association spokesperson said: "In light of very public stories about possible funding cuts, British Triathlon are delighted to continue supporting 12 such athletes, though with the likelihood of a smaller more focused group of 8 to 10 being needed come October.

"This is consistent with UK Sport's drive for clearer medal success and the World Class Team's own desire to translate World Cup success on to championship podia."

Heard has also set herself the target of improving on her world ranking of 29 by finish consistently in the top ten at this year's World Cup events as well as this season's World and European Champion-ships.

The 23-year-old has spent the last few months getting used to her new coaching set-up which has included training with the Welsh cycling squad in Majorca, running with new coach Gordan Crawford in Scotland and swimming with Graeme Pierce at the City of Newport club.

"Training is going well and I'm pleased with my progress," said Heard.

"I'm going to go to Perpignan soon and I'll do a few races out in France before the 2005 calendar really begins."