The inaugural Prudential Singapore Swim Stars tournament take place at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on Friday, and Olympic gold medallist Jessica Hardy cannot wait to get started.

The meet features some of the world's best sprinters like Hardy, competing in a straight-to-finals format.

Said Hardy on Tuesday: "It's way more exciting. It'll be fast, there'll be a lot of adrenaline, and I'm excited to have a good race."

Other swimmers set to grace the event include Japan's four-time Olympic gold medallist Kosuke Kitajima, reigning 100m freestyle world champion James Magnussen, and breaststroke world record holder (50m and 100m) Ruta Meilutyte.

Hardy was joined on Tuesday by Nathan Adrian and Jeanette Ottesen, who were in town to begin the build-up to the three-day swimming festival.