The oldest rookie in Australian swimming history says she is still as excited as ever about her world championships debut just days out from hitting the water.

WA’s Holly Barratt put her name in the record books when she finished second in the 100m backstroke behind defending world champion Emily Seebohm in a personal best time at national trials in April to book her spot at the world titles in Budapest.

The 29-year-old, who gave away the sport at 18 and returned after five years, will open her campaign on Monday in the 100m backstroke, before the heats of the 50m backstroke on Wednesday.

Despite the wait between nationals and worlds, Barratt said she the feeling around her long-awaited apperance on the team had not been dampened.

“I'm still just as excited to be an Australian Dolphin as I was in April,” she said.

“My goal is just to get out the best races I can, to stay focused, even with all the hype, and swim some fast times.”

Barratt is going in well prepared, having raced extensively in Europe in the past month.

She won the 50m (27.81sec) and 100m backstroke (1:00.05) in Chartres.

“Its been a great experience,” Barratt said. “It was definitely challenging getting over 30 races done in a month, with travel and training on top of that. But I learnt a lot from it and had a great time with the team too.

“I do feel in good shape, training has gone well and I'm excited to see what I can put together at worlds.”

Barratt, who is coached by boyfriend Will Scott, denied she was yet looking ahead to a possible berth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Tokyo is still a long way off, so I'm just focusing on what I'm doing at the moment,” she said.

Fellow debutant Zac Incerti and Rio de Janeiro Olympian Brianna Throssell are the other West Australians competing in Hungary after Tamsin Cook’s post-Rio break.

Barratt said the trio had stuck together while overseas.