Five things to watch at the Pan-Pacs

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Phelps vs. Lochte
Ryan Lochte was the hottest swimmer at the recent U.S. Championships, as he won three races -- two of which were against friendly rival Michael Phelps. Lochte's 200m individual medley victory over Phelps marked the first time he had beaten his foe in an IM final. This week, the pair will face off again in the 200m IM, as well as the 400m IM -- which Lochte won at Nationals, and a race that Phelps has not swum since winning it at the Beijing Olympics (he still owns the world record).

Which one will be the IM king at Pan-Pacs?

Hardy vs. Soni vs. Jones
Breaststroker extraordinaire Rebecca Soni is riding a wave of success that dates back to Beijing, where she won a gold (200m breaststroke) and two silver medals. She was the 100m breaststroke world champion in 2009, and at the 2010 Nationals she won the 100m and 200m breaststroke.

Soni seems like the favorite in the breaststroke events at Pan-Pacs, but not if world record holder Jessica Hardy and Australian Leisel Jones, one of the best breaststrokers to ever wear a cap and goggles, have anything to say about it. The trio will square off in the 50m and 100m breast, while Soni and Jones will meet in the 200m breast. With so much speed in the water, one of these events could see a world record.

Double duty for Sutton
Much has been made about Chloe Sutton's strong 2010 season. The 18-year-old Mission Viejo swimmer captured the overall Grand Prix title and earned a $20,000 check, and she's pretty much solidified herself as the best distance freestyler in the U.S. At the Pan-Pacs, Sutton will pull double duty by swimming four pool events (200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle) and the open-water 10k race.

Sutton will swim the 1500m freestyle on Saturday, to be followed one day later by the 10k event. It will be interesting to see how her body holds up heading into the open-water swim.

The backstroke boys
Aaron Peirsol, Ryan Lochte and Japan's Ryosuke Irie will all meet in the 100m and 200m backstroke events. Here's a quick synopsis: Peirsol has five Olympic medals -- three gold, two silver -- in the 100m and 200m backstroke combined; Lochte won the 200m backstroke at the 2010 Nationals and the Beijing Olympics, and placed third at the 2009 Worlds; Irie was second in the 200m backstroke at the 2009 Worlds, and also swam the fastest 200m backstroke time in history last year.

Irie's would-be world-record time, which was over a second faster than Lochte's mark in the event, was not recognized by FINA because he used an unapproved suit. Will Irie in jammers be able to touch the wall head of Peirsol and Lochte this week?

Kukors vs. Rice
American Ariana Kukors set the 200m IM world record at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, and she won the event at the 2010 U.S. Championships. Kukors, who also placed second in the 400m IM in Irvine two weeks ago, will face off with Australian Stephanie Rice in both events. Rice owns the 400m IM world record, and Kukors lowered her 200m IM world mark last summer.

Kukors, 21, has yet to swim at an Olympics; her performance at the Pan-Pacs will go a long way in determining if she has a shot at going to -- and earning a medal at -- London in 2012.