The first Australian athletics competing in the Commonwealth Games have arrived at Manchester Airport - and they are fired up and going for gold!

Australia is expected to take home a large haul of medals and among the athletes who arrived today were 1998 Commonwealth Games silver medal-winning heptathlete, Jane Jamieson and 400-metre hurdles hopeful Jana Pittman and she is really excited about competing in the new stadium.

"We've heard great raps about the new stadium," she said. "The English always put on a great competition and it's great competing in that atmosphere."

And she was in confident mood about Australia's likely medals tally. "I think we've got a really good chance," she said. "We're a young team and I think we're definitely going to bring home some medals.

"The Commonwealth Games are a big step for me but I'm looking forward to running against my heroes, who I watched four years ago in Kuala Lumpur."

Manchester Airport is an official sponsor of the XVII Commonwealth Games.