Australia's men's eight have enjoyed a slice of early luck as they attempt to win the nation's first gold in rowing's blue-riband event.
The crew, led by men's team captain Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, have been drawn into a far easier Saturday heat than the other which will help their chances of progressing straight through to Wednesday's final.
World champions and overwhelming favourites Germany, defending Olympic champions Canada and 2008 silver-medallists Great Britain were all drawn in heat two - prompting complaints from all three.
Rowing's world body FISA confirmed one nation was set to protest the draw before opting against officially submitting the paperwork.
Australia were drawn alongside USA, Ukraine and Poland.
The Poles beat Australia in last month's final World Cup regatta in Munich but McKenzie-McHarg's crew has improved over the last month.
McKenzie-McHarg, a silver-medallist in Beijing with the men's four, said his eight were happily progressing "under the radar".
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