Jonathan Brownlee is hopeful that his brother's absence from this weekend's World Triathlon Series opener shouldn't hinder his attempts to qualify for the next Olympic Games.

Alistair, who won gold at London 2012, is missing from the race in Abu Dhabi with an ankle injury, but the younger of the two siblings believes that he will still be able to ensure his participation in Rio de Janeiro next year.

The 24-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It's a shame for Alistair that he's not racing.

"It's a big year for us all with Olympic qualification and it's still very early in the year at the moment."

Nine World Series rounds will take place between March 7 and late summer, before the Grand Final in Chicago in September.