The inventive system for selecting RF gradient coils automatically in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is based on determining an index gauge (116) for a corresponding k-space line data acquired for each preselected coil during a (fast) pre-scan (102,104). The coils are adaptively selected as producing a preferred sensitivity to a desired field-of-view (FOV). The pre-scan determines most sensitive coils, and rejects those least sensitive. Using data acquired with coils most sensitive, the signal-to-noise ratio is increased, and unwanted artifacts reduced, in the resulting data acquisition and image reconstruction. By using automated and adaptive selection/rejection, the inventive system reduces any susceptibility to operator error, and thus ensures higher quality image output. Independent claims are also included for: (1) A computer program； (2) An MRI apparatus.
