Kiwi Olympic legends Hamish Bond and Mahe Drysdale could find themselves as part of the New Zealand eight at next year's Tokyo games, should incoming coach Tony O'Connor have his way.
With Drysdale having lost his single sculls seat to Robbie Manson, and Bond returning from a stint as a competitive cyclist, the two Olympic champions could prove welcome additions to New Zealand's eight.
Currently at the Maadi Cup with Christ's College, O'Connor will soon take charge of the men's eight, and is making it clear that both Drysdale and Bond have a place in his crew if they want it. Bond has already committed to push for a spot, while Drysdale is contemplating his involvement.
"We've had some talks, some good talks," O'Connor told 1 NEWS. "I've caught up with the two of them."
"A man with three Olympic gold medals [Drysdale]? Yes, absolutely you'd want him in the eight.
"We obviously have to qualify this eight, but every one of the boys - Hamish [Bond] as well - and myself want to win.
"If you said to Mahe, there's a chance of an Olympic gold medal here, he'd think about it. It'd be good to get him in, a man of his stature. Like everybody else, he'd have to make it - there's seats up for grabs."
O'Connor also spoke of the significance on having two legends with the stature of Drysdale and Bond will be on any potential crew, hoping to lift performances across the board.
"If you have legends in a crew - who set the bar really, really high in terms performance, but also personal responsibility - you can't help but drag everyone else up to that level.
"In a lot of the cases you aren't even dragging them. They'll do it anyway. If you've got a guy beside you pulling five seconds faster than you on the erg, you're going to do that.
"You learn by looking at your legends, at your heroes don't you? And obviously those two are heroes to a lot of people.
"If they were in that squad, it would be fantastic."
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