Focused Oxford can cause an upset when they take on a heavyweight Cambridge from Putney to Mortlake tomorrow (4.30pm).

The Light Blues, the second heaviest crew in Boat race history have the greater pedigree with five senior internationals on board, sporting 13 World Championship medals between them Oxford have just two senior internationals, American William Buckland and Croatian stroke man Ante Kusurin, but no medals.

Cambridge have five past Blues, Oxford have one, president Ejsmond-Frey, who moved this week from the five seat to bow, the position he filled in 2006 as a first time Boat Race winner.

Both crews have been beaten in run-up fixtures, notably Oxford by Leander and Cambridge by Molesey.

Last week's Head of the River was likely to be a positive form pointer, but the wind made it somewhat meaningless, although Cambridge were the fastest crew, leading home both Leander and Molesey.

Oxford coach Sean Bowden himself admits he has "had plenty to do" this year with just one past Blue and a new group to mould.

He has the enviable record of five wins in the last seven years and a reputation for getting it right on the day.

Everything points somewhat towards Cambridge, but Oxford have looked focused and very capable in the last week.

Their secret weapon could be their Croatian, Kusurin. As an experienced international stroke, he has a straightforward philosophy: "Read the race, be extremely aggressive, and, when the moment comes, break the other crew in half".

Oxford crew:R Ejsmond-Frey (bow), A Kosmicki, M Plotowiak, M Fleming, A Wright, B Buckland, T Kookyer, A Kusurin, N Brodie (cox).