Robbie Manson's reminded Mahe Drysdale he's going to take some beating in the battle for New Zealand's men's single sculls seat

Manson has set the fastest time in the heats at the rowing world cup regatta in Austria overnight and has then won his quarter-final.

Drysdale narrowly won his heat in a time nine seconds slower than Manson and then finished third in his quarter.

They'll go head-to-head in the same semi-final tonight.

The best placed finisher at next month's world cup in Switzerland will represent New Zealand at this year's world championships.

The majority of New Zealand's crews have progressed to semi-finals, headlined by the world champion boats; the women's pair and the men's and women's doubles.