SWINDON’S Steve Rowbotham has been selected as one of five names for four seats to race in the GB men's quadruple scull at the opening world cup of the season in Belgrade from May 4-6.

Rowbotham, who won bronze at the Beijing Olympics in the men's double, was named on Wednesday as in contention for the quad along with Charles Cousins, Tom Solesbury and last year's men's double partnership of Matt Wells and Marcus Bateman.

“World cups are important competitions in their own right but this one will be more significant than usual as it gives us the first glimpse of the potential 2012 racing form of our crews,” said GB Rowing team performance director David Tanner.

“We are always ambitious to do well and will want to see a number of crews on the Belgrade podium. We will take into account performances in Belgrade as we shape the team for the remainder of the season.”

The final build-up to London 2012 includes three international world cup regattas starting in Belgrade on the May Bank Holiday weekend before moving on to Lucerne from May 25-27 and then Munich from June 15-17.

The GB rowers must wait until June 6 though before the final selection for seats at the Olympics are announced, giving them two race opportunities to cement their places in a crew for London 2012.

And the June 6 announcement means the final world cup in Germany will be a tense precursor to the Games as the crews go head to head with their international rivals in their confirmed Olympic formations just six weeks before the action moves to Eton Dorney.