At Lake Ruataniwha last year, the St Kevin's College pupils won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal.
It will be more difficult at Lake Karapiro because they will be competing in a higher age group; they are key members of the St Kevin's under-17 and under-18 eight. They will also contest the under-17 double sculls.
The twins successfully prepared for the championships by being part of the Oamaru eight that won an under-21 silver medal at the New Zealand championships at Lake Ruataniwha.
Jade Winter, who is no longer at school, is the only rower in that team who is not in the St Kevin's eight. She is replaced by Loren Haggerty.
The Kearneys, Haggerty, Bethany Robertson, Georgia Tangney, Eilee Robinson, Lucy Fauth, Katherine Hope and cox Sophie Moynihan proved their mettle by winning both the under-17 and under-18 eights at the South Island secondary school championships earlier this month.
The crew is coached by Owen Gould, who is helping to lift North Otago rowing back to the level it reached with former New Zealand coach Rusty Robertson 50 years ago.
The St Hilda's combination of Grace Scown and Anna McAslan will be contesting the under-18 double sculls.
The crew won bronze in the under-19 event at the national championships last month.
Saasha Bruce (Mt Aspiring College), who won a silver medal in the girls under-18 singles sculls at last year's Maadi Cup, could step up to the gold medal.
Zoe McBride (Kavanagh) had a good dress rehearsal for the Maadi Cup with a convincing win in the girls under-16 single sculls at the secondary schools championships.
McBride teamed with Hannah Duggan to win the lightweight under-18 double sculls and finished second in the under-16 heavyweight double sculls in 7min 59.36sec.
It is the event in which they won a bronze medal in the under-15 category at last season's Maadi Cup.
Other crews competing include the Dunstan under-15 boys novice double sculls of Reed Frewen and Jordan Kane, the Mt Aspiring crew of James Redai and Jamie Bowley and the Wakatipu High School under-18 pair of Alex Hall and Michael Foley.
James McNicol (Waitaki Boys') will contest the under-16 and under-17 single sculls with Jack O'Leary (Kavanagh).
Kyle Harris (Dunstan) is in the boys under-17 single sculls. The Otago Boys' under-15 eight will also be in contention for a podium spot.
