Crunch time for the superstar New Zealand men's eight at the World Championships in Austria tonight

The boat, featuring two-time Olympic gold medallists Hamish Bond and Mahe Drysdale, face a repechage to keep their campaign alive after missing automatic semis qualification.

But it's an unexpected day off for the men's pair.

One quarter-final in their section had to be re-raced because an umpire boat drifted on course when it ran out of fuel.

Kiwi men's pair crew member Mike Brake says that means he and Tom Murray get a day off because the other crews can't race three times in two days.



Seven other kiwi crews are in semis tonight.