Oxford University will be hoping that an experienced coach will make all the difference when they take on Cambridge in the 157th Boat Race tomorrow (5pm).

The crews appear evenly matched, which means that it could come down to last-minute preparations.

Dark Blues coach Sean Bowden has 17 years of Boat Race experience behind him.

The last 14 of those have been with Oxford, whom he has coached to seven wins in the last decade.

Bowden has thought long and hard about his 2010 defeat, which robbed him of a winning hat-trick.

“We have assessed the performance,” he said.

“Clearly we made a good job of the first half, but were not so strong in the second half.

“This year’s programme has been modified to address this issue, and I hope we have the balance right.

“The theme is to keep it simple, row to our strengths and look to improve power.”

Bowden’s opposite number this year is Steve Trapmore, employed by Cambridge last September.

Trapmore has no experience of the Boat Race either as a coach or an oarsman, although he stroked the British eight to their Olympic gold medal in Sydney.

He has plenty of Tideway experience though, and like Bowden, is renowned for his attention to detail.

Trapmore said: “You have to keep the programme honest – no short cuts.”