KEY POINTS:
MUNICH - Georgina Evers-Swindell admits she and sister Caroline are struggling for form but has promised their red-hot Chinese rivals a battle to remember in Saturday's world championships double sculls final here.
For the first time in four years, the Olympic champion twins won't start favourites for a race.
That tag belongs to Qin Li and Liang Tian, who beat the New Zealanders convincingly at the Amsterdam World Cup in June and powered clear late in today's semifinals.
The Chinese, who have emerged this year from virtual rowing oblivion, led from the outset but it was only a narrow advantage until late.
"I thought they'd burn out at the start and leave us like they did at Amsterdam," Georgina said.
"It was quite nice to live with them down the track and they just took it up over the last 250m.
"We'll just give it everything we can in the final and try to stay with them as long as can and see how the last 500m pans out."
Georgina was reluctant to say they "cruised" today but said she and Caroline felt much more comfortable crossing the finish line than in Sunday's heat, even if it was 4.37 seconds behind Li and Tian.
With Olympic qualification now achieved, the sisters can concentrate fully on adding to their five world championships medals, three of which are gold.
However, the challenge is stiffer than its ever been for two reasons - the rise of the Chinese and the two-month break from training forced on the sisters this year.
In April Caroline suffered a stress fracture to a rib which sidelined her for nearly two months. At about the same time, Georgina required a cortisone injection to a wrist injury that was operated on in December, forcing her out for a week.
"I just don't think we're going as fast as we have," Georgina said.
"There could be all sorts of reasons for that. One of them could be eight weeks out of the boat early on in the year but we hate making excuses up like that.
"It's a really competitive field this year and the Chinese in particular are getting ready for a home event next year (Olympics) so they're going to be really tough."
- NZPA
