“The best crew will win regardless,” McDaniel said.

The wildcard in the proceedings is No. 5 Wisconsin, undefeated despite a meeting with No. 3 Washington, but otherwise untested against the national powerhouse crews.

“Wisconsin is an unknown,” McDaniel said. “We went in sophomore year number one and they were number two and they took it from us.”

Navy and Cornell, the other two top-eight Eastern squads at the regatta, also have the potential for strong performances.

Regardless of how strong its competition proves, though, the Crimson will certainly walk away with a better sense of where it stands for the IRA National Collegiate Championships, held June 3-5.

“It’s a very good indicator,” McDaniel said. “If we can win here, we know we have a very good shot at the national championship.”

Winning also carries with it the traditional perk of a trip across the pond to London and a spot in the internationally-renowned Henley Royal Regatta.

But thoughts of additional titles will need to wait. For now, at least.

“We don’t anticipate,” Parker said. “That’s the right word. We don’t sort of look ahead and wonder how we’re going to feel based on certain results. All we’re focused on is whether we’re ready to race.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.