Southland's Jade Uru is well established at the top of New Zealand rowing and is a frontrunner to be picked next week in the New Zealand elite squad to prepare for this year's Olympics.

But Uru, as much as anyone in the sporting scene, knows not to get too far ahead of himself and take anything for granted.

The New Zealand rowing selectors are known for keeping people guessing with their decisions and it is a method that has had plenty of success.

Last year Uru was almost untouchable as he dominated sweep rowing, which included winning gold in the pair, four and eight at the national championships.

However, when it came to the New Zealand elite trials he delivered a poor erg time and as a result was left out of the higher ranked coxless four crew and instead included in the eight to prepare for the world championships.

Through injury, Uru was eventually a late callup to the coxless four and the world championships, but the damage had already been done. He knew where he stood in the pecking order.

This weekend, the national elite trials will again take place, and this time there is an even bigger prize at stake – a spot in the New Zealand team to prepare for the Olympic Games in London.

Uru knows he will need to be on top of his game for the week-long trails.

"Nothing [you have done] matters. The last three years I've won the pair and four at nationals, but it doesn't always let you have a free run in trials," he said.

"It's almost a clean slate and when you get on the water you can be Hamish Bond, Eric Murray, me or a club crew – you have to put in the performance at trials.

"It was a big eye-opener for me last year. I went through the season unbeaten in every boat, and then to go to trials and be on the back foot on the first day from not doing a very good erg, you realise it doesn't matter what you do during the year, as long as you're consistent."

"You never know what the selectors are going to do. I've just got to make sure I'm in the best possible position and fitness that I can be."

The lure at the end of the trials is a spot in the New Zealand team to prepare for the Olympics campaign.

For anyone, getting a shot at attending an Olympics is special, but for Uru this chance is even more significant – he has the opportunity to compete at the same Olympics as older brother Storm.

"It would be pretty cool," he said. "It's one of those things I try not to think about until I'm there, but it would be exciting to travel with Storm.

"It's been good the last three years in the world champs team with him and just to have [him] to bounce ideas off. I seem to perform better when Storm is around as well."

This year's elite trials will start on Sunday, with erg testing, and will progress to seat testing on the water, where the selectors will look at different combinations.

Uru will be one of seven Southlanders lining up at the trials with an eye on the Olympics.

The others are his brother, Storm, Nathan Cohen and his brother Hayden, Louise Ayling and Genevieve Behrent.