Oxford and Cambridge are both trying something new for Saturday’s Xchanging University Boat Race.

Dark Blues coach Sean Bowden has opted for a tandem rigging for the first time.

The new set-up means Oxford will have Ben Ellison and Karl Hudspith in the four and five seats, both paddling on the bow side rather than having rowers on alternate sides down the boat.

“As a coach it’s the first time I’ve ever done it,” Bowden said.

“Looking at the boat it felt it had more physical strength on bow than stroke, I saw that really early on.

“Doing this keeps the boat going straighter and helps us place guys where logically we want to put them.

“We have a lot of strong-minded, competitive people and this links them better together.”

Meanwhile, Light Blues coach Steve Trapmore has changed the make of boat Cambridge will use for the first time since 1981, opting for a white-hulled Hudson instead of the German-made Empacher.

Cambridge crews tested the Hudson in the Trial Eights in December, and Trapmore has been working with the Canadian company to make some changes.

Trapmore, who won gold as stroke of the men’s eight at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is coaching in the Boat Race for the first time.

He said: “We’ve had quite a productive last few weeks. The guys are in good spirits and the boats are going pretty well. Everyone is in good form.

“There’s a lot of quality in the Oxford boat and it will make for an interesting race.”