But he might have to put the surfboard away for a little while, because for the next five weeks Treffers will have his eyes locked on back-to-back 50 metre backstroke Commonwealth Games titles.

Treffers will feature at the Games after finishing second in the men's 50m backstroke final at the national swimming trials on Saturday night.

Treffers finished in 25.06, touching the wall just after leader Zac Incerti [24.97], three days after claiming a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke final.

He brushed aside the heartbreak of missing the Rio Olympic Games and last year's world championships to move one step closer to defending the title he won in Glasgow four years ago.

Treffers moved to the Gold Coast at the end of 2016 for a fresh start after missing out on selection for the world championships - and the shift has worked wonders for his career as he weighs up his future.

"A home Commonwealth Games, it's going to be an awesome time. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and it's only good things to look forward to," Treffers said.

"I really can't think of anything better. I've missed a few teams that I've wanted to be on in the past. But to make this one for a home Commonwealth Games, it's going to be pretty special.

"To race in my what is now my home city, it's going to be great. [The move has] been really good, just a chance of scenery and it refreshed my swimming career a bit.

"I'm not swimming quite as well as I would have liked at the moment but I've got one meet coming up where I'm looking forward to making some improvements.

"We'll see how it goes. I think more than anything it has been great to live by the beach. I love surfing and things outside the pool, so I'm looking forward to it.

"It's just so good being able to go on the weekends out to the beach and surf. During the week after gym sessions going to the beach. It can be such a refreshing feeling, getting in the ocean."

Treffers is one of 40 Queensland-based swimmers in the 70-strong Commonwealth Games team, featuring 49 able-bodied and 21 para-sport athletes.

While he is the defending champion, Treffers says finishing second at nationals means "the pressure is off".

That can only be a good thing for Treffers after he had to overcome shoulder tendonitis to be fit for the selection trials under the tutelage of former world champion and Olympic gold medallist Ashley Callus.

"I've definitely got a few things to work on. My start wasn't great, so I'm doing a bit of work on that," Treffers said.

"We go back we do a week or two of hard training and then cut it back again. There's a few little things I want to work on and hopefully I can make those adjustments come Comm Games."