The second round robin of the Louis Vuitton Challenger finals ended in disappointment for the British America's Cup team this week after they won just two of their eight races to finish fifth.

Now Ian Walker's crew is set for a compelling battle with Dennis Connor and the American crew of Stars and Stripes, placed seventh after two round robins, when next week's quarter-finals start in the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland.

"This is a very symbolic draw for GBR Challenge as it revives one of the oldest rivalries in sport," said syndicate head Peter Harrison.

"The New York Yacht Club has been an adversary of a number of British yacht club challenges since they first won the trophy in 1851. It's going to be a very tough match for us against Team Dennis Conner and all their design and campaign experience accumulated over the last 35 years.

"However I'm confident that, although we're challenging for the first time in 15 years, the high skill and competency of our teamwork will see us through."

The best-of-seven series begins on November 12 and Walker, skipper of GBR Challenge, commented: "We have great respect for Stars and Stripes but we have beaten them once already, so we know we can do it. To eliminate them would be a great achievement but only our best performance from our team will suffice. This has the potential to be a seven-match thriller!"