Australian marathon swimmer Chloë McCardel hopes to complete a three-way swim of the English Channel this weekend, breaking a record that was set in 1990.

Weather permitting, Chloë, 27, will cover more than 112 kilometres during what is expected to be a 30-hour swim.

If successful, she will be the first Australian to achieve the feat, and one of only four swimmers worldwide to do so.

Last weekend, Stuart Johnson attempted a three-way crossing but had to give up on the third leg because of shoulder pains and feeding problems.

Currently, Chloë has completed more crossings of the English Channel than any other Australian woman, including a non-stop double crossing in 2010, taking 21 hours and 48 minutes.

She also finished first overall in the 46km Manhattan Island Marathon that year, and holds the record for swimming 60 laps, the greatest number non-stop, across Bondi Beach, covering 48kms in 11 hours 42 seconds.

"After finishing a double crossing of the English Channel in 2010, I knew I wanted to be the first Aussie to complete a successful triple crossing," she said.

"I hope to join that very exclusive club this time around, and set a new world record for the fastest women’s time."

Joined by her husband Paul, Chloë will set-off from Dover and aim for Cap Gris Nez on the French coast, where Channel swimming rules only allow her 1 10-minute break before going back into the water for the return swim to England.

She can then take another brief rest before embarking on the third leg.

However, she is expected to take shorter breaks as she aims to break the record for a three-way swim, 34 hours 40 minutes, set by Alison Streeter from Dover 22 years ago.

"The weather in the Channel can quickly change for the worse," Chloë said. "And although the conditions can be good at the start, it can soon become a ‘washing machine’ out there, especially over 30 hours.

"If I break for too long, it can easily mean the difference between an arduous but good swim, and a record-breaking swim."

Chloë has been training in the UK for the past four weeks, after spending three months preparing for the swim on Australia’s Gold Coast.

People can follow Chloë’s progress on her website.

Updates and words of support are also encouraged via Facebook (Chloë McCardel Marathon Swimmer) and Twitter (@chloemccardel) .