Olympic bronze medallist Mahe Drysdale and former Olympic champion Rob Waddell renew their rowing battle at the national championship on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel this week.
After last year's row off to decide who'd compete in the single scull, Drysdale the current world champion, got the nod ahead of Waddell who returned after a seven year absence from the sport.
This week's contest will be interesting for the fact that neither Drysdale or Waddell are in peak condition both having had time out since Beijing... in the single sculls they'll also face Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen.
Drysdale's been back training for the past four weeks while Waddell has been competing with Team New Zealand in the Louis Vuitton yachting series in Auckland.... Drysdale admits he's far from his best....
Drysdale says his priority this year is the world champs in Poland in August.
The men's and women's singles sculls heats and eighths heats are this afternoon.
