Germany's reigning men's single sculls champion Oliver Zeidler is set to face a challenge from three-time Olympic medallist and home favourite Damir Martin in one of the most exciting battles, with the 2019 World Championships silver medallist Sverri Sandberg Nielsen of Denmark also returning after a year out from international racing.

Brothers Martin Sinković and Valent Sinković, who won a double sculls Olympic title at Rio 2016 and coxless pair golds at Tokyo 2020, are among the hopefuls for the hosts, competing in the men's double sculls on the 2,250 metres Jarun regatta course on Lake Jarun.

Another Croatian sibling pair in Josipa and Ivana Jurković are tipped to fare well in the women's pair event after a sixth-place finish at last year's World Championships.

Singles sculls Olympic bronze medallist Magdalena Lobnig is set to line up with sister Katharina Lobnig for Austria in the women's doubles sculls among the other stars competing in Zagreb.

World Championships men's pair silver medallists Jaime Canalejo Pazos and Javier García Ordóñez look the favourites in their event.

Tomorrow is set to feature preliminary racing, heats, repechages and quarter-finals across the women's and men's pair, double sculls, lightweight single sculls, four, single culls, lightweight double sculls and quadruple sculls categories.

The first finals are due to take place on Saturday (May 6) in the lightweight single sculls events, with the remainder scheduled for Sunday (May 7).

Zagreb marks the first of three stops in this year's World Rowing Cup series, with Varese in Italy from June 16 to 18 and Lucerne in Switzerland from July 7 to 9 set to follow.