Ye Shiwen spearheads China in four-nation swim meet

China is looking for a flying start in 2015 as the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series opens in the western Australian city of Perth on Friday.

Olympic champion Ye Shiwen leads the 24-member Chinese team which also includes backstroke specialist Fu Yuanhui and world championships runner-up Lu Ying.

Olympic champions Sun Yang and Jiao Liuyang, and rising star Ning Zetao are out of the squad.

Top swimmers from the United States, Australia and Japan will compete against the ambitious Chinese.

The United States, led by 11-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte, will be looking to halt Australia's domination of the two-day outdoor event in its third year on Australia's west coast.

Chinese medley specialist Ye may win two medley titles in Alicia Coutts' absence, as the Australian defeated Ye in the 2013 world championships.