MATTHEW Langridge will begin his latest campaign to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games on Monday afternoon.

The Northwich rower, part of Great Britain’s men’s eight, will be up against a rival – Netherlands – that was faster in their previous meeting during a World Cup regatta earlier this year.

Italy and New Zealand complete the line-up for the first heat.

Defending champions Germany take on Poland and USA in the second.

Only the winner of each race will qualify automatically for the final on Saturday week.

The rest contest a repechage on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was expected the Germans would not be in our heat because of the seedings,” said Christian Felkel, who coaches the men’s eight alongside Jurgen Grobler.

“The Dutch, of course, won at Lucerne [in May] so it will be interesting to race them again.

“But we’re not worried, and can’t wait to get going.”

Scott Durant, Tom Ransley, Andrew Triggs Hodge, Matt Gotrel, Pete Reed, Paul Bennett, stroke Will Satch and cox Phelan Hill join Langridge in the boat.

Great Britain are the reigning world champions in the category, although with a changed line-up to the one that took gold in France last summer.

The current crew won bronze at the European Championships in May, then finished fourth at the World Cup regatta that followed.

They improved to second, behind Germany, in their next outing at Poznan in June.

Langridge, 33, won medals in the men’s eight – bronze in London after returning from Beijing with silver in 2008 – at each of the past two Olympic Games.

He had made his debut in Athens, in a double scull with Matt Wells, four years earlier.

Monday’s race is scheduled for 10.50am local time (2.50pm in UK).