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Grant rapt to be making his debut at world rowing titles

Rhys Grant is a proud West Australian, but has spent the past few months preparing for the next big step of his rowing career in Sydney.

Grant will make his world rowing championships debut in Amsterdam next week, representing Australia as a member of the quadruple scull.

The 27-year-old, who became the first West Australian in 30 years to win the prestigious President's Cup last year, put the final touches on preparations alongside crew members Chris Morgan, Kieran Kobelke and Cameron Girdlestone, before jetting off to the Netherlands yesterday.

Grant said he was excited about the challenge after being a reserve for the sculling squad last year.

"We have got a good crew and a great coach," he said. "The goal is to make the A final.

"We are a new crew. We have Chris Morgan, who has been to a couple of Olympics, but the rest of us are still learning the boat class.

"If we get in the A final there's a chance that we can sneak through and get on the podium, but that's probably a big ask."

Grant's major goal is to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. And he believes that dream is on track.

Also part of the WA contingent heading to Amsterdam are Joshua Hicks (men's coxed eight), Perry Ward (men's lightweight single scull), Hannah Vermeersch and Alexandra Hagan (women's coxed eight), and Maia Simmonds in the women's lightweight quadruple scull.