For Cambridge rowers Peter Marsland and Tobias Garnett, today's Boat Race will be held on a familiar ground.

The pair from Chiswick and Putney will be sitting in seats four and five in the Cambridge boat hoping to extend their university's winning streak over rivals Oxford in the race from 5.15pm this afternoon.

Peter is a relative newcomer to rowing, taking up the sport two years ago after suffering numerous injuries playing rugby.

He is now in the first year of an M.Phil and is the heaviest Cambridge rower, weighing in at 101.8kg.

Tobias, who grew up in Putney, is in his third year at Cambridge.

The former King's College, Wimbledon student hopes to emulate his great, great uncle Kenneth Garnett who rowed in the Blue Boat in 1914.

But despite the Cambridge pair's home water advantage, Oxford go into race as the heavier of the two crews and clear favourites with the bookmakers to make it three wins in the last four years.

Ladbrokes are quoting Oxford at 1/2 and Cambridge at 6/4, while William Hill have the Dark Blues at 4/6 and the Light Blues at 11/10.

The latest weather forecast suggests both crews will face a difficult race, with south-westerly winds of more than 20mph wind predicted around the time of the start.

The race will be broadcast on ITV1 from 4pm.