The Redhead ironman is eighth after the first three rounds at the same venue two weeks ago and faces another gruelling three days of competition.

While the formats on Friday (Enduro) and Sunday (Survival) are the same as a fortnight ago, the Saturday round - The Specialist - is different from the Super Sprint.

Rather than two ironman sprint races to decide a staggered, handicap start for the final, the specialist round puts competitors in separate run, swim, board and ski races to decide starting spots for the ironman final.

In the same round last summer, Collins was fourth - his best result on the series.

"Last year I actually won the run leg, the first one off the bat," Collins said.

"It's a different format of racing. It's pretty tough on us to do four, three-to-four minute races, then an ironman.

"But the formats are always changing and it's exciting to watch."

After finishing outside the top 10 overall last summer, Collins was forced to qualify for this year's series at trials, where he was second.

He is on track to reach his goal this year and hopes to push even higher by the finish on Sunday. He has 37 points, just one behind Matt Bevilacqua, and 10 away from the top six.

"If I can get inside my qualification point, that's always a good start," he said.

"Sitting eighth, I'm pretty happy with that. I'd love to be inside the top six and pushing at the front of races.

"I had some really good races last round so hopefully I can keep a bit of that going.

"It's a pretty quick turnaround and you're not really going to be making any huge gains in that time, so it was just about recovery and getting the little things right - getting enough rest and working on a few little skill things. I'm ready to go again."

The former state ironman champion starts his NSW titles run from next Friday at Blacksmiths and Redhead.

AAP reports: Ironman series leader Ali Day has issued a warning to any of his rivals who think he's satisfied with his triumphant return to the sport a fortnight ago.

After missing last year's series with broken wrists, Day is atop the standings after a clean sweep of the first weekend. While the 30-year-old's results were beyond his wildest dreams, Day knows his job is only half done.

"My body's just starting to come really good," Day said. "Physically it's felt fine. I think it's probably mentally, it can be draining racing back-to-back-to-back ... and I think knowing that you have to race in two weeks' time can be draining too but I'm starting to feel really good."

"Started looking forward to just getting down to Kingscliff now and starting to race again on Friday."

Despite Day's dominance, the points format for this year's series means he only holds a four-point lead from nearest rival Jy Timperley heading into Friday's fourth race.

After such a strong start though, Day is heading into the weekend with nothing other than securing a third Ironman title as his goal.

"The first one I won and the second one, obviously, are really special, but this one probably moreso particularly after what I've been through.

"I'd have to say it would probably - I've still hopefully got a few more years left in my career - but that would be the best moment of my career to be able do that," he said.

"That's obviously what's driving me at the moment."