Olympic champion Tom James will be the fourth man in the Team GB's men’s coxless four crew for the season’s opening World Cup in Belgrade next month.

James, who only recently returned to training after a heart problem, had originally been named as a reserve for both the four and the men's eight crew pending a final fitness test.

The announcement means a reunion for James with Molesey Boat Club skipper Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Peter Reed, with whom he won men’s four gold in Beijing, and with Alex Gregory with whom he won world gold in 2011.

"The objective has always been to have a strong strategy across the squad and to produce more than one top boat. There are no winners and losers today," said men’s chief coach Jurgen Grobler, who summed up the confident mood in a men’s squad that has strong medal aspirations for both Belgrade and the London Games, which begin 100 days from today.

James added: "I’m looking forward to being in the four in Belgrade. After a long and sometimes difficult winter of training, it will be good to get racing."

Great Britain won silver in the men’s eight in Beijing and silver at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships, while the men’s four were champions in Beijing and World Champions in 2009 and 2011.

"These tight selection calls show the high quality of both of these boats with all our top guns vying for places through the long trials and testing process", said Team GB rowing performance director David Tanner.