The Anakie-based trainer, who will prepare the outside chance for Mepunga owner Barry Smith on Wednesday, is hopeful the two-year-old can overcome a tough draw of box six to clinch the $47,000 prize.

Britton said his relationship with Smith stretched across more than three decades. "I used to work for my father, Allan, and we ended up taking one of Barry's dogs back in 1991," he said.

"Early on his dogs went really well and we had a bit of success. They then had a bit of a lull like anything does and in the past 10 years he's really come back.

"His dogs just seem to be getting better and better."

Britton, one of Australia's leading trainers, said the Andrea Dailly-trained Shima Shine was the dog to beat.

It was the fastest qualifier, running a blistering 24.76 seconds. Britton's box one-bound chaser, Do It, is a $5.50 chance with bookmakers while Qwara Bale, out of box three, is also at $5.50.

"We're just glad to be there with ours," Britton said.

"It's going to be pretty hard for him. He's not an out-and-out sprinter, he's more suited to probably 550-metre races.

"I think he'll need Shima Shine to miss the start and maybe find a bit of trouble if he's to win."

Britton said he and partner Angela Langton enjoyed travelling to Warrnambool but rarely found time as they managed their 150-greyhound kennel and property north of Geelong.

"We haven't got a huge amount of owners we train for, but we have good relationships with the ones we do," he said.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.