Australia’s goals for the re-imagined Commonwealth Games beg no imagination.

Win the most gold. Top the overall medal tally, with the most medallists. Dominate from day one at the pool.

How to watch the Commonwealth Games live and free on Seven

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Some three years nearly to the day since Victoria cancelled and went close to killing off the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow’s rescue is complete.

At short notice and with a much-reduced budget, the 2014 hosts have created a self-styled “re-imagined Games” that is vastly different to the previous edition in Birmingham.

One thing that hasn’t changed from four years ago is that Australia remain the country to beat.

On a memorable last day in Birmingham, they topped the medal tally ahead of England as the Diamonds delivered the nation’s 1000th Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Australia’s 257-member Glasgow team boasts some of the nation’s biggest sporting stars, such as pole-vaulting flag bearer Nina Kennedy and ‘King’ Kyle Chalmers.

Pole vaulting champ Nina Kennedy is leading the Aussie charge in more ways than one. Credit: Getty

But, with 215 gold medals up for grabs across 10 sports in a pared-back program, there have been few withdrawals of note.

Kaylee McKeown, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, is out with glandular fever while teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout decided to prioritise the under-20 world championships, before he was sidelined with a serious hamstring injury.

Two early Australian wins in the bowls, completed on the morning of the opening ceremony, were a good omen.

But day one, especially the swimming finals on Saturday morning (AEST), will be the first big statement.

Australian team chef de mission Petria Thomas, a nine-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, is well-versed on what early success means for the wider team.

“A strong start to any Games is always helpful. The swimming is normally at the start of the program and our swim team is very strong - they do a great job in terms of winning medals and doing PBs,” Thomas said.

“It’s always good to have that at the start ... but we’re strong across the board, in many sports.”

Lani Pallister will start her campaign as the red-hot favourite in the 400m freestyle.

Lani Pallister is a red-hot favourite in the pool. Credit: AAP

Mollie O’Callaghan, who has come into the Games with back stress fractures, will lead the world-record 4x100m women’s freestyle relay team alongside Shayna Jack, Meg Harris and Emma McKeon.

For much of the swimming team, the Games are only the first part of their international assignment. Next month, Australia will compete at the Pan Pacific championships in California.

But there will be added motivation for high performance in Glasgow, with benefactor Gina Rinehart confirming her cash incentive scheme for swimming medals and records at the Games.

The Diamonds will start their campaign on Sunday night (AEST) against Tonga and must hit the ground running. The following day, they have a massive clash with England, who lost to Australia in the Birmingham semi-finals.

Diamonds star Kate Moloney has been elevated to vice-captain for this year’s Commonwealth Games. Credit: Getty Images

When the track and field program starts on Monday night (AEST) it will feature an Australian team enjoying a golden age.

Kennedy is fresh from posting the fifth-best height in the history of women’s pole vault, emphatically showing she is over the hamstring injury that sidelined her for a year.

Cam Myers and Olli Hoare will run in a star-studded mile, taking on Scotland’s new world-record holder Josh Kerr in a race that shapes as one of the highlights of the Games.

Likewise, Jess Hull leads a women’s middle-distance group oozing form and depth.

The ever-smiley Jess Hull will again be in the medal hunt. Credit: AAP

Cameron Myers will have a huge challenge on his hands when he comes up against world record holder Josh Kerr in the mile. Credit: AAP

High jumper Nicola Olyslagers is the reigning world champion. Torrie Lewis, Eddie Nketia and Lachlan Kennedy headline a strong sprint group.

Reigning champion Matt Denny is expected to again dominate the discus.

Jemima Montag (10,000m walk) and Kurtis Marschall (pole vault), both aiming to win their third-successive Commonwealth Games gold medals, will also be ones to watch.

Kurtis Marschall is also expected to make his mark in the pole vault. Credit: The West Australian

Elsewhere, Matt Richardson’s shock defection to Great Britain means there will be plenty of spice in the sprint events at the track cycling. While Richardson is No.1 in the men’s sprint, Australia should dominated the program at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome.

Eileen Cikamatana won her first weightlifting gold medal for Fiji in 2018, then defected to Australia and won again in Birmingham. After a podium near-miss at the Paris Olympics, she is a big medal favourite again in Glasgow.