Rio Olympics 2016: Will two athletes carry the New Zealand flag?

2012 Olympic champions Jo Aleh, left, and Olivia Powrie.

A duo could carry the flag for New Zealand at the opening ceremony for the Rio Olympics.

470 sailing gold medalists Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie are seen as logical contenders to carry the flag at the Maracana stadium, Rikki Swannell of Radio Sport reports.

The official announcement is set to be made at 11am NZT

Neither Lisa Carrington nor Valerie Adams are scheduled to arrive until closer to their competition, while champion rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, and Sir Mark Todd all compete the next day, making them possible but unlikely.

Having a duo is not without precedence - with Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell carrying the flag at the Beijing closing ceremony in 2008.

Physically only one person can carry the actual flag, so if it is Team Jolly, then Aleh, as the senior of the two and at her third Olympics seems logical.

Murray and Bond may still be an option, but it seems very unlikely the rowing champs would take that risk the day before their first race.