Australia fear they will have to settle for a reduced medal haul at next year's Beijing Olympics because of the intense battle between China and the United States for sporting supremacy.

Australia won 58 medals in Sydney and 49 in Athens to finish fourth on the medals table both times, punching above their weight to trail only the US, China and Russia.

The country plans to send a team in excess of 500 athletes to Beijing next year to try and maintain their place in the top-five nations.

Australia Olympic Committee (AOC) president John Coates believes the team can maintain their lofty ranking but will have to settle for less medals.

"The AOC is hoping to qualify its biggest away team ever, somewhere around 500 athletes," Coates said in a statement released to coincide with Wednesday's one-year countdown to the opening ceremony.

"This would make us the third largest team at the Games behind China and the USA. And we are aiming for another top-five finish."

Despite the size of the Australian team and the enormous expense and effort that has gone into preparing them for Beijing, Coates said the expected battle between the Chinese and American teams meant most other countries would be left fighting for scraps.

Test events

Australia have entered into an agreement with China to compete in as many test events as possible in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics.

Coates said the test events would provide Australia with an early idea of the challenges they face in Beijing, particularly from the host nation.

"Who knows what China is capable of doing at a home Games?" Coates said.

"I think the test events over the coming months will reveal to the world that China is about to release a team of super-talented athletes with a desire to top the medal tally at these Games."