Robinson is aiming to go back to to back in the 10,000m Zatopek Classic at Melbourne on Saturday night, but the clock is just as important.

The magical time to beat is 28 minutes – some 45 seconds quicker than Robinson's personal best he posted in winning last year's event.

While it's going to take something special, the carrot is an automatic nomination to the Australian team for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

It would also allow him the luxury of tailoring his preparations around the Games without having the pressure of chasing a qualifying time deep into the summer.

"I think I should be in good enough shape to be able to run it," Robinson said.

"It's a big PB, but last year we jogged around for a lot of the race.

"This year, we're going to have pacemakers pushing the pace.

"Last year was more about winning, but this year the main thing is winning, but I also want to win in under 28 minutes as well."

Robinson has ticked every box in his preparation for the Zatopek Classic since he returned from Europe in September.

He spent three weeks sleeping in an "altitude tent" at home, which simulates a lower oxygen environment of 3000m.

That has been followed by a three-week training camp at Falls Creek, which is 1700m above sea level.

"This is usually our base in January and we'll come here for a month, this is the first time I've been here in November," he said.

"Just because we want to run fast at Zatopek we have come up early."

If Robinson can defend his Zatopek title, he will become the inaugural winner of the Ron Clarke Medal.

"That's definitely extra incentive," Robinson said.

"He was one of the best distance runners Australia has ever seen and probably given the time he ran, makes him the best

"It would be great to win the first one."

Three of Robinson's training partners have been called on to be the pacemakers for the race, leading the field out on a brisk pace for around the opening 7000m before exiting the track.

Their presence will be vital given there won't be any African runners in the race this year.

Robinson believe that might be because the winner's prizemoney has been reduced from $5000 down to $3000.

"Once the pacemakers pull out, it's only going to be Australians in the race," Robinson said.

"We have to beat each other for that first spot for the Olympics, but we also have to make the time.

"But if there is a Kenyan there, they can push it because they're not after a qualifying time, they're just after the win.

"It's still going to be very tough with the field of Australians and a couple of Americans and New Zealanders."