Ian Thorpe will attempt to build on a successful return to the pool, but don't try telling him he's making a comeback.

Thorpe earned a top three world ranking in the 200m freestyle at the NSW championships at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday night when he clocked 1m46.20s in his first major long course race since the Athens Olympics 16 months ago.

"I'm not making a comeback, because I never went away," Thorpe said after his impressive performance.

Intent on focussing on the 100 and 200m freestyle events heading into the Commonwealth Games, Thorpe was listed to contest a heat of the former event on Saturday morning.

"I'm pleased with how everything is going with my training and I'll see how I'm going tomorrow morning and hopefully I will be able to swim well in it," Thorpe said.

Thorpe expressed the hope he would lower both his 200 and 400m records over the next three years.

The 23-year-old Sydney-sider stressed he was interested in achieving his best performances rather than the pursuit of world records.

Among his rivals for the 100m crown will be fellow Olympians Michael Klim, Adam Pine and Brett Hawke.

Women's 100m world champion Jodie Henry was scheduled to decide whether she would contest the event.

Queenslander Henry pulled out of the 200m because of a sore throat which has troubled her for the last two to three weeks.

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