A podium finish at the World Championships would be a huge achievement for a crew that's been together just six weeks. 

The New Zealand Men's Four believe they're a genuine medal chance when they race the A Final at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam tomorrow.

 "She's all to play for," says bowman Fred Vavasour after finishing third in their semifinal on the famous Bosbaan course. "We've got as good a chance as any."

Just to be in that position is a major step for a crew that's been together for only six weeks following the return of Matt Macdonald and Ollie Maclean after post-Paris Olympic sabbaticals and the selection of U23 international Harry Fitzpatrick. 

The New Zealanders produced a powerful middle K to be second through the halfway mark and then just back in third with 500m to go. 

"We've got a really nice base pace rhythm…which when we’re getting right is pretty dangerous," says Fred.

Conditions have made it challenging finding that sweet spot. 

 "It's a pretty swirly course here. Sometimes you feel like you're really humming along, and then there's points where you feel like you've just been stopped in your tracks."

The last 500m turned into a four-way dogfight for the three finals spots, Germany launching from fourth to pass China and then challenge the Kiwis, with Fred seeing it all play out in front of him.

  "We knew the Germans would be fast into the finish, so we tried to put a wee bit more on them through the middle, says Fred. "They just pipped us at the line, [but] we were happy with that performance." 

The Netherlands won in 5min 58.70sec, Germany was second in 6:00.15. New Zealand crossed in 6:00.42. 

Having the re-energised Matt and Ollie, with their Olympic medal-winning experience, was having a big effect on belief.

 "I remember watching Matt in Tokyo when I was still at school," says Fred, who was rowing out of Marlborough Boys' College when the New Zealand Eight won gold at the Olympics in 2021. "Even in Paris, I was still at uni and just kind of poking around in Dunedin." 

Now it's a race for the medals in his first senior world championships, the last few days a huge learning curve with the Olympians helping set the tone. 

 "They're so calm around everything," says Fred. But they were also absolutely "ruthless" when they needed to be:  "It gives us confidence that if we get our processes right, we're as good as anyone on the day."