WITH two world champions and an Olympic gold medallist in the boat next to him, Nick Brodie accepts he is up against it - but the underdogs tag won't stop him from dreaming of Boat Race glory, writes ANDY CRYER.

The Oxford cox, from Bourton, near Shrivenham, will be at the stern of the dark blue boat in today's 153rd University Boat Race and admits Cambridge are "massive favourites".

With an inexperienced crew in front of him, Brodie knows it will be a baptism of fire with Cambridge's boat boasting reigning world champion German duo Thorsten Engelmann and Sebastian Schulte and GB Olympians Tom James and Kieran West.

But Brodie, pictured below, points out David slayed Goliath', so why can't his Oxford crew defy the odds once again.

He said: "I guess if you analysed it too deeply it would be a scary prospect, coming up against world and Olympic champions.

"We are the underdogs, maybe more than ever before, but we like it that way because it takes all the pressure off us.

"Fair enough they are the bigger and stronger crew but Oxford have shown enough times in the past, that doesn't mean anything. The bookmakers often get it wrong.

"No-one expects us to win and that is fine. All the pressure will be on Cambridge and hopefully we can just relax, sneak up on them and win the race."

While brute force is undoubtedly in Cambridge's favour, Brodie, 20, believes his University have the edge when it comes to preparation.

He said: "People talk about Cambridge being the experienced and clean crew and us being very ragged and messy.

"But the training of the two sides are very different and as far as I am concerned our training programme is far more superior than theirs.

"Results in recent years have shown that and going into the race we are going to be full of confidence we can win. You have to be don't you?"

Coxing in the Boat Race has been a long-held ambition for the former Junior World Champion and last year's heartbreak just strengthened his resolve.

This time last year, Brodie was axed from the dark blue boat just a day after being announced as the cox, but he insists the thought of failing in his ambition never crossed his mind.

He said: "I have always wanted to win the boat race and last year did not change that.

"I am sure there will be nerves. But there are good nerves and bad nerves and this will be good nerves.

"The adrenaline is already flowing and I can't wait for it now."