Chris Perry's 'water babies' are about to face their first major international test.
Junior rowers nurtured under the national coach's innovative Sha Tin talent-spotting programme make up the majority of the Hong Kong squad for the Asian Championships next month.
They join Olympic hopefuls Fenella Ng Gar-loc - competing in women's open singles - and men's lightweight doubles pairing Lo Sing-yan and Lui Kam-chi for the four-day event in Naganuma, Japan.
Perry is anxious to see how his youngsters stand up against the best seniors in the region.
'We have been putting most of our resources into developing our juniors in the past two years and it is worthwhile to give them the proper exposure,' he said.
'They are much taller and stronger than others of their age and it will be interesting to see how they do there.
'It will be difficult for them to win medals as they will race against their senior rivals but there may be some surprises for us. I am looking for them winning the B finals.' Perry said their real test would come at next year's Asian Junior Championships in India.