The 43-year-old is among those leading the contingent of senior squad members set to take up a prominent mentoring role as Australia build toward Gold Coast 2018 with a number of team camps between now and April.

He is joined by Barrie Lester, Karen Murphy and Nathan Rice.

Australia finished top of the lawn bowls medal standings at Melbourne 2006 with three golds, one silver and one bronze.

The country failed to win a gold medal, however, at either the Delhi 2010 or Glasgow 2014 Games.

In 2010, they amassed three silvers and one bronze, while in 2014, they managed just one silver and three bronzes.

Wilkie pointed to the current squad's chemistry and experience as key drivers in their quest for gold on home soil.

"I think it's our best chance at winning gold medals since Melbourne," he said.

"In Delhi and Glasgow we were on surfaces and in conditions that were a little bit foreign to us and not used to playing on regularly.

"It's a good rapport within the team.

"I think that's definitely one of our strengths.

"All the team have had a lot of experience playing with each other in many events, whether it be for Australia or other tournaments."

Gold Coast 2018 will be Wilkie's third Commonwealth Games after collecting men’s triples silver at Delhi 2010 and men’s four bronze at Glasgow 2014.

Next year, he is hoping to make it third time lucky in his quest for a gold medal. 

"[It's] always a great honour and a thrill to be selected for Australia, but I think it's even more exciting this time being able to play in front of our home crowd on the Gold Coast," Wilkie said.

"I'll be looking to share my experiences and things like that."

Commonwealth Games Australia announced a 17-member lawn bowls team for Gold Coast 2018 earlier this month. 

The squad was announced at the Darebin International Sports Centre - the venue for bowls competition at Melbourne 2006.

It includes Lester and Rice, who won men’s pairs bronze at Melbourne 2006.

Lester missed out on the last two Commonwealth Games, but has been selected having become the country’s number one bowler.

Wilkie, Rice and Aron Sherriff, four-time Bowls Australia International Bowler of the Year, have also been included in the men’s team.

They will join Aaron Wilson, the reigning world champion in the open category.

Reigning world singles champion Murphy has been selected for her fifth Games, which equals the record of Rex Johnston for a bowler.

Murphy won gold a Melbourne 2006 in the women’s pairs, having also secured silver medals at Kuala Lumpur 1998 in fours, Manchester 2002 in singles and Glasgow 2014 in triples.

She is joined by Rebecca Van Asch, who was recently crowned Tasmanian Athlete of the Year.

"It is a pretty experienced team," Wilkie added.

"Aaron Wilson and Rebecca van Asch are the only ones who haven't been to a Commonwealth Games before but they're also very experienced in other competitions in their own right.

"Looking forward to working hard in the lead-up to give us the best chance at winning that elusive gold medal."