Great local hope Nick Kyrgios admits a sore back will leave him short of 100 per cent fitness at the Australian Open – but it was never going to keep the noted big-event performer out of the last major he will play as a teenager.

Having shot into the world’s top 50 on the back of a breakthrough 2014 campaign, which included a thrilling run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals, Kyrgios begins his home major against Argentina’s Federico Delbonis at the revamped Margaret Court Arena on Monday night.

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He is part of an 18-strong local contingent in the singles – the biggest since 2005.

“I definitely think (the back complaint) is not going to be something that’s going to linger around for the next couple years or anything like that,” Kyrgios said on Sunday.

“I’ve just got to manage it because you don’t want it to become a longer thing than it needs to be.

“I don’t want it to be affecting me during US Open or anything like that.

“It’s a tough call, but it’s the Australian Open.

“It’s why you play the game.

“It’s why I play the game.

“I’ve just got to be smart about it and just manage it.”

Having seen his ranking shoot from 182 at the end of 2013 to a high of 50 in October last year, Kyrgios is now targeting a spot in the top 30.

“My goal is to stay healthy, stay out on the court and compete,” said Kyrgios, who beat compatriot and close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis to win the Australian Open junior title two years ago before making a seamless transition to senior ranks.

“I think my level is definitely there,” he said.

“I feel more experienced definitely.

“I played on some of the biggest stages in the world last year – Wimbledon Centre Court, Arthur Ashe.

“I feel as though I know where my game stands on tour and obviously I’m known a lot more in the locker room.

“People know what to expect.

“I’m putting a bit more expectation and pressure on myself to perform and obviously I’m expecting more out of myself now.”

Kokkinakis looks to have drawn the toughest first-round assignment among the Australians with a clash against 11th seed Ernests Gulbis.

But there is a fitness cloud hanging over the Latvian, who pulled out of his opening tournament of the year in Qatar due to illness and then lost to qualifier Jiri Vesely in Auckland last week.

Bernard Tomic enters the Open on a high with back-to-back quarter-finals at the Brisbane and Sydney Internationals.

Having lasted only one set against Rafael Nadal at Melbourne Park last year, Tomic will be desperate to get off to a much better start in a very winnable first-round encounter against German Tobias Kamke.

After showing encouraging signs in Sydney last week, Jarmila Gajdosova has an excellent chance to improve on a sorry 0-9 win-loss record at the Australian Open when she opens proceedings on Margaret Court Arena against Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru.

The other Australian women in action on day one are Arina Rodionova, Storm Sanders and Russian-born wildcard playoff winner Daria Gavrilova, who is playing under the Australian flag at grand slam level this year while she waits on a formal change of citizenship.