I think early last year when recruitment was in overdrive that was most certainly the case. I myself attended the pre-selection before I had their minimum requirements. Back then it was even on the website that you could apply 500hrs short of the requirement.
At the moment however recruitment is much slower and with a pool of applicants with much more than the required
minimum hours I'm not sure you'd hear anything from them if you apply now.
It is worth a try though but if I were you i'd expect to have to wait a while for interview even when you meet the minimum hours. Most of us have the minimum hours and have been waiting for a while for a call to finish the rest of the process.
Hang in there!!
