Rio Olympics 2016: Don't panic more medals are coming soon

Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, of New Zealand, compete in the men's pair heat. Photo / AP

It's been another medal-less day for the New Zealand team at the Rio Olympics.

Anxiety levels are rising among Kiwi fans with 48 hours having now passed since New Zealand's last medal, courtesy of silver to the women's sevens team.

That followed New Zealand's surprise first medal of the Games, which came via Timaru shooter Natalie Rooney in the women's trap.

Since then the storylines have been dominated disappointment and heartbreak for our athletes.

Two medal opportunities have been missed over the past two days, with the equestrian riders blowing a prime chance to podium in the team's eventing, while cyclist Linda Villumsen, the reigning world champion in the individual time trial, finished a disappointing sixth overnight.

The New Zealand men's sevens team are also out of the medals after dropping their quarterfinal match against Fiji this morning - their third loss of their campaign.

But while the sparse couple of days on the medal front has broken any momentum, the true barometer of New Zealand's Games will come over the next couple of days.

Out on the rowing course men's pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, overwhelming favourites for gold, will contest their final in the early hours of tomorrow morning, while the men's lightweight four team of James Hunter, Alistair Bond, Peter Taylor and James Lassche are also in the 'A' final.

The track cycling programme also gets underway tomorrow morning, with Ethan Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins a strong chance of kicking off their campaign on a high in the men's team sprint.

"Super Saturday" could bring further rowing medals, while swimmer Lauren Boyle, New Zealand's only medal hope in the pool, set to compete in her favoured 800m freestyle event.

But the big focus on Saturday will be shotput queen Valerie Adams, who is looking to make history as the first New Zealand woman to claim three Olympic gold medals.