Ollie Hoare is the last Australian standing in the strongest event on the track and field at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

And having overcome the dispiriting nature of his exit from the recent world championships, the 25-year-old has no intention of just making up the numbers in the men's 1500m final on Saturday.

Hoare topped the timesheets in Thursday's opening round, winning the quickest of the two heats in three minutes 37.57 seconds.

It was a tactically-astute and controlled run from Hoare - a welcome contrast to the way he bombed out in the semis at the world championships at Eugene's storied Hayward Field, the same venue where he won the 2018 NCAA 1500m title.

"That was a big mental hit for me, I think it was my first terrible race in about two years," he said.

"To do it, particularly at Hayward where a lot of the people who have watched me in college, let alone in general my career - it was tough to do it in front of them and not make the final and have a medal progression there.

"But you have to have those blips in your career, otherwise you can't be great.

"You can't medal if you don't know what it means to lose."

With that in mind, Hoare has welcomed the chance to change the narrative so quickly in Birmingham.

Standing in his way is a stacked field including new world champ Jake Wightman, fellow Scotsman Josh Kerr and Keyan superstars Timothy Cheruiyot and Abel Kipsang.

"My coach Dathan (Ritzenhein) said it is going to be a great mental test for you," said Hoare.

"This is going to define who you are as an athlete.

"Will you cave in or will you try and progress and know that your fitness is there?

"That's the indication of this meet; it's a very deep and talented field.

"If I come away with a medal I will know I have progressed well, not just physically but mentally leading into those championship races."

Australia's other world-class men's middle-distance runner Stewart McSweyn didn't even make it to the start-line in Birmingham after going down with a dose of the flu.

Matthew Ramsden was run out in the heats.

The final is at 1310 on Saturday (2210 AEST).