HAYLEY Leake's childhood in Mildura may be a key element to helping her win Australian Survivor: Brains v Brawn.

The 31-year-old academic researcher and physiotherapist has been selected as one of the 12 "brainiacs" competing against 12 "athletic specimens".

The confessed "super fan" has her eyes on the prize with a house on the cards if she takes home the half-million- dollar prize.

"It would ...