London 2012: Team GB v Australia in the men's four has an edge to it

There have been lots of compelling races at this Olympic regatta but the best is yet to come. The men's four duel between Australia and Great Britain on Saturday has a genuine edge to it for all kinds of reasons, not least recent Olympic history. The British are seeking gold in this event for the fourth straight Games, dating all the way back to Steve Redgrave's farewell flourish in Sydney 12 years ago. Three of the crew who pipped the Aussies in Beijing last time are back for more. Andy Triggs Hodge, Tom James and Pete Reed all know precisely what is required and Alex Gregory, in his first Olympics, is learning fast. "If it is like the Ashes, that is good," murmured Triggs Hodge, encouraged that GB have already scored a psychologically useful win over their rivals in the semi-final. Both crews seem to bring the best out of each other on the water and the Australian quartet remain unfazed by suggestions Britain currently have an advantage. "I don't think so, it's so close," said Drew Ginn, the three-time world champion in the Australian boat. "There has been nothing between the crews for each of the races we have had. It would have been nice to have been one-up in the semi but we get to fight another day." His crew-mate James Chapman is also unconvinced the British are already home and dry. "It's up to them. We feel like we've still got plenty of speed, so the psychological edge is whatever helps them sleep at night. We know we're a really fast crew … I'll be sleeping well tonight." The GB boat has visibly responded, though, to being beaten by the Australians at the World Cup event in Munich in June. The dominant legacy of Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell is now history and they are determined to write a fresh chapter. Only twice before has someone – GB between 1908 and 1932 and East Germany between 1968 and 1980 – managed to win the men's four Olympic title on four successive occasions. The eighth and final day of Olympic rowing competition is also huge for Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase as they seek to regain the lightweight men's sculls title they won in Beijing. Their improvement in the nick of time after a difficult season has been one of the features of the regatta and another golden day could well await if they can see off Denmark, New Zealand and France. The lightweight women's double of Sophie Hosking and Kat Copeland have also been surpassing pre-Games expectations and a thrilling duel with Greece is in prospect. GB posted the fastest semi-final time, four seconds ahead of the Greeks, but much could hinge on the wind conditions. As things stand, both British lightweight boats will start in lane three but that could change if a blustery crosswind persuades the organisers to perform a redraw for the second day in a row.