The brothers are more used to rowing in the same team

James, 22, was a member of the defeated Light Blue crew last year, and has twice rowed for the Goldie crew in the reserve race.

His brother David, 19, has been promoted to the Oxford Blue boat after rowing in the reserve boat Isis last year.

The last time brothers were in opposing boats was 1900 when Raymond Etherington-Smith was president of the Cambridge crew while his younger brother Thomas was a freshman at Oxford.

That year the race was no real contest - Raymond was one of the finest oarsmen of his generation, and his crew beat Thomas' Dark Blues by a massive 20 lengths, the most decisive verdict in the history of the race.

The Livingston brothers come from a Cambridge varsity family, with parents John and Kate both achieving degrees there.

But despite the Light Blue family tradition, James insists that loyalties will be split with support for both brothers.

I'm very proud of him - it's just a pity he's rowing for the Dark Blues rather than the Light Blues James Livingston

"I'm sure they'll be neutral on the day," James told the BBC Sport website.

"However, they'll almost certainly be nervous - our mum gets nervous before any race, but this will be really nerve-wracking. I hope they enjoy it."

David and James were inspired by the Barcelona Olympic rowing golds of the Searle brothers in 1992, and have had many rowing successes together at school level.

And though they remain close, the pair say they will distance themselves from each other in the time leading up to the duel.

"We both mean to win this race," David said.

"I don't think we are going to be sitting there on the starting line thinking about each other. We're going to be focused on rowing our best race.

James added: "At the finish one of us is going to be screaming in triumph while the other will probably be vomiting under Mortlake Bridge.

"No older brother wants to lose to a younger brother.

"We both want to win, but afterwards we remain brothers and friends. Blood is thicker than Thames water."

James tasted defeat on the Tideway last year when the Light Blue crew led for most of the way only for Oxford to snatch victory in the closing stages.

It was an experience the 22-year-old is determined not to suffer again.

Oxford president Matt Smith went to school with the brothers

He said: "Losing last year was an awful experience, it was heartbreaking. We just had bad luck on the day.

"But this year we're focusing on this race. We aim to race the fastest we possibly can and hopefully that will be good enough to do the job.

"It's awful lying there under the bridge while the other team are enjoying their triumph."

The brothers' old Hampton School rowing friends, the Smith brothers, narrowly missed out on emulating their rivalry.

Matt Smith, 21, is the Oxford president and stroke, while 19-year-old Ben just missed out on selection.

He will be in the Cambridge reserve boat, Goldie, and is first in line for a call-up if anyone drops out of the Light Blue boat through injury.