The door is being kept open for Olympic rowing champion Mahe Drysdale to take his place at this year's world championships following a one-off time trial this week.

After a six month sabbatical from the sport following last year's London Olympics, the five-time single scull world champion will complete the time trial on Lake Karapiro this Friday to determine if he is ready to attend next month's event in Chungju, South Korea.

Olympic rowing champion Mahe Drysdale.

The 34-year-old former Tauranga Boys' College student is being offered a single sculls berth after Joseph Sullivan pulled out of selection contention.

Sullivan, who won a double sculls gold medal at last year's Olympic Games, has struggled for form in the singles seat this year.

Apart from Drysdale, Rowing New Zealand selectors have stuck with the status quo of combinations from last year's championships.

The 38-strong team in 13 boats comprises of rowers who have proven themselves in the three World Cup regattas so far this year.

Heading the Kiwi team are unbeaten three-time world champions Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, who are also the men's pair Olympic champions.

Other strong hopes are the women's pair of Rebecca Scown and Kayla Pratt and men's double sculls crew of Robbie Manson and Michael Arms.

Emma Twigg will seek to improve on her previous world championships single sculls medals - a silver in 2010 and bronze in 2011.

Rowing New Zealand high performance manager Alan Cotter endorses the selection decisions but says some other crews will find it harder to climb the podium in Chungju.

"The team has performed well in 2013, some crews have had more success than others, but this is a development year for our squad – with the ultimate goal being four medals at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016," he said.

The World Rowing Championships are being held from 25 August – 1 September.

New Zealand Rowing team to compete at the 2013 World Rowing Championships

Women's Single Scull
Emma Twigg (Auckland RPC, Hawkes Bay RC)
Coach: Gary Hay

Women's Coxless Pair
Rebecca Scown (Central RPC, Union Wanganui RC)
Kayla Pratt (Auckland RPC, Auckland RC)
Coach: Gary Hay

Women's Lightweight Single Scull
Louise Ayling (Central RPC, Waihopai RC)

Women's Lightweight Double Scull
Julia Edward (Waikato RPC, Rotorua RC)
Lucy Strack (Southern RPC, North End RC)

Women's Double Scull
Fiona Bourke (Southern RPC, Otago Uni RC)
Zoe Stevenson (Waikato RPC, Tauranga RC)

Women's Quadruple Scull
Erin-Monique Shelton (Central RPC, Petone RC)
Genevieve Armstrong (Waikato RPC, Tauranga RC)
Georgia Perry (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
Sarah Gray (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)

Women's Eight
Kelsey Bevan (Auckland RPC, Counties Manukau RC)
Genevieve Behrent (Southern RPC, Waihopai RC)
Eve Macfarlane (Southern RPC, Canterbury RC)
Jessica Loe (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
Kerri Gowler (Central RPC, Aramoho Wanganui RC)
Grace Prendergast (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Robyn Munro (Central RPC, Nelson RC)
Linda Matthews (Central RPC, Star BC)
Cox Laura Campbell
Coach: Dick Tonks
Assistant Coach: Marion Horwell

Men's Lightweight Single Scull
Duncan Grant (Central RPC, Wairau RC)
Coach: Calvin Ferguson

Men's Double Scull
Robbie Manson (Central RPC, Wairau RC)
Michael Arms (Auckland RPC, Auckland Grammar RC)
Coach: Calvin Ferguson

Men's Coxless Pair
Hamish Bond (Southern RPC, North End RC)
Eric Murray (Waikato RPC, Waikato RC)
Coach: Noel Donaldson

Men's Coxless Four
Bobby Kells (Auckland RPC, North Shore RC)
Adam Tripp (Auckland RPC, Hawkes Bay RC)
Tobias Wehr-Candler (Waikato RPC, Wellington RC)
Jade Uru (Southern RPC, Waihopai RC)
Coach: Noel Donaldson

Men's Quadruple Scull
Hayden Cohen (Southern RPC, Canterbury RC)
Nathan Flannery (Southern RPC, Union RC)
Fergus Fauvel (Southern RPC, Otago Uni RC)
Nathan Cohen (Southern RPC, Otago University RC)
Coach: Calvin Ferguson

Men's Lightweight Coxless Four
Curtis Rapley (Waikato RPC, Tauranga RC)
Peter Taylor (Auckland RPC, Auckland RC)
James Hunter (Central RPC, Wellington RC)
James Lassche (Southern RPC, Avon RC)
Coach: Dave Thompson

Non-travelling reserves:
Louise Trappitt (Central RPC, Star BC)
Lucy Spoors (Southern RPC, Canterbury RC)
Richard Harrison (Auckland RPC, Hawkes Bay RC)