Eric Murray and Hamish Bond dominated the heats of the men's pair in Poznan ©Getty Images

New Zealand’s Eric Murray and Hamish Bond look set to continue their seven-year unbeaten run in the men’s pair after they dominated their heat at the latest World Rowing Cup in Poznan.

The duo powered away from the start of the race and maintained their advantage over the field to finish in a winning time of 6min 32.050sec, as they sought to confirm their superiority over their rivals at the final major regatta ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Serbia’s Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedik were rewarded for their pursuit of the Kiwi duo by ending as the runners-up in the heat in 6:35.340, which saw them claim one of three automatic spots in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

The most likely challenge to Murray and Bond, the reigning world and Olympic champions, could come from the British crew of Alan Sinclair and Stewart Innes, who posted a time of 6:32.060 to win their heat.

Reigning Olympic Champion Mahe Drysdale could deliver further success for New Zealand, after he posted the fastest time in the heats of the men’s single sculls by finishing in 7:04.470.

His team-mate John Storey went closest to Drysdale’s time by clocking 7:08.140 to finish second in the same heat.

Having claimed victory at the last World Cup in Lucerne, Australia’s Kim Brennan continued her impressive build-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by posting a time of 7:44.830 in her heat of the women’s singles sculls.

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning eased into the women's pair final
Helen Glover and Heather Stanning eased into the women's pair final ©Getty Images

New Zealand’s Emma Twigg, the 2014 world champion, looked eager to respond to her defeat to Brennan last month by winning her heat in an impressive time of 7:39.340.

The duo will expect to continue their rivalry in the final, with both rowers expected to ease through their semi-finals.

Reigning Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning returned to the water in confident fashion, as the British crew booked their place in the women’s pair final by ending their heat in 7:11.880.

The duo, who were forced to miss competing in the final in Lucerne due to illness, are hoping to continue their unbeaten record since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

New Zealand’s Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown will hope to provide a strong challenge, with the Lucerne silver medallists having triumphed in their heat in a time of 7:07.970.