Andy Triggs Hodge and his crew will have their eyes on nothing less than a gold medal when they start their challenge at around 10.30am our time (Saturday).

Britain's opening heat is against the hosts China, together with Italy, Belarus and America.

The top three qualify for the semi-finals.

Hodge, 29, was confirmed as a member of the men's fours team by the British Olympic Association in June.

His team has had a difficult season due to injuries, but Hodge told The Bucks Herald:

"We are looking at getting back on top of the field and driving for a gold medal, that is what our goal is but a lot of teams are stepping up to the plate and there will be a lot of challenges ahead.

"We have got to make sure that on the day we bring out 100 per cent of our ability. There might still be a stronger team out there so we have got to always be training to get better."

He went on: "We have been building this project for the last three years and we are now facing the culmination of what is the biggest thing in my life ever.

"It is really exciting and great but to say I'm enjoying it sounds a bit placid."

Unfortunately Hodge will be unable to make Friday's opening ceremony and the athletes' parade at the Olympic Stadium.

"Our first race is the day after the opening ceremony so that will be a day to make sure we are well prepared," he said.

"The ceremony would not be the best preparation."

And he says he is not too concerned about the expected searing heat he will be competing in. "Everyone is in the same boat and we have to get on with it."

Hodge was born at the RAF Halton military hospital where his mother was a nurse, and he spent the first year of his life living in Little Tring before moving to Yorkshire.

His 97-year-old grandmother still lives in Berkhamsted, and Hodge said: "I try to return to the area as much as I can. I have a lot of fond memories from there."

This year there has been a degree of upheaval to the GB fours through injury to the season's chosen line-up of Tom James, Steve Williams, Peter Reed and Hodge.

However, they won World Cup gold in Munich, with Tom Lucy replacing James, but were eighth in Lucerne when Hodge was also injured. The crew finally came together for the season's last world cup in Poznan, where they won silver and showed they are back on track for Beijing.

Hodge said: "We had a compromise run-in with a few injuries and we were not running on 100 per cent."