My engine has begun to take longer to start from cold. It cranks several more turns than usual, and starts slightly rough. Then it is fine, and remains fine for the rest of the day. Today however it backfired into the intake at WOT at max RPM. My fuel pump is original at 100k miles, and has been noisy ever since I bought the car. Maybe a bit noisier lately, and now seems quieter. I get a good two second prime in the run position, and doing that seems to help the cold starting.
Does all this sound like the pump is on the way out?
Opti is new in the last 18 months, plugs about the same age.

 

Could be the fuel pump, but could be the pressure regulator, or leaky injector(s), the best way to check though is to put a fuel pressure guage on it.