Joel Parkinson fears wild weather which has battered the Gold Coast may nullify his edge in local knowledge as he begins his world surfing championship defence.
Heavy seas and winds have smashed beaches all along the Gold Coast and Parkinson doubts there will be much surfing at main venue Snapper Rocks when the men's Quiksilver Pro begins on the weekend.
Already organisers have moved trials to neighbouring Rainbow Bay, with the big swells creating a big hole out the back of Snapper Rocks.
Parkinson says using Rainbow Bay would take away much of the local knowledge advantage he and fellow world tour star Mick Fanning have over rivals including American great Kelly Slater and rising South African Jordy Smith.
"Snapper and Rainbow are right next to each other, they're shoulder-to-shoulder, but they're completely different waves," said Parkinson at the event launch on Thursday.
"Snapper I'm very familiar with and I think Mick (Fanning) would be the same ... but Rainbow is a lot like any other break in the world. Snapper is really unique.
"You're still going to have an advantage but I don't think it'll be leaps and bounds like Snapper is."
A new swell is expected to hit the Coast for Friday's trials, which will determine the last wildcard entrant for the event.
A further swell is being forecast to build when the main event gets underway on Saturday but the large waves have organisers confident both the men's event and the women's season-opening Roxy Pro will be completed well before March 13, the last day of the waiting period.
Wherever the event is held, Parkinson is keen to get back to surfing after a busy off-season following his first world title win last year.
The 31-year-old, a four-time world championship runner-up, pipped 41-year-old Slater for last year's title.
Eleven-time world champion Slater was a no-show at Thursday's media conference, citing "personal reasons", but if Slater was trying early mind games to rattle Parkinson, the Australian didn't appear affected.
"I don't mind. Long time past those games," Parkinson said.
"Maybe he's playing golf? Maybe he's too busy."
Parkinson's first heat will be against New South Welshman Matt Wilkinson and one of the wildcards.
Both the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro are scheduled to begin on Saturday.
