Otago has a mix of old and new in its women's sevens team making its debut at the national tournament in Rotorua this weekend.
After not qualifying last year, Otago finished second in the South Island tournament in Timaru in November to make sure of its place in the tournament which has been expanded to 10 teams, split into two pools.
Otago is in the same pool as Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Southland, so will have some tough games on the first day.
The structure of the women's tournament has quarterfinals early on the second day, so Otago must make sure it is in the top four of its pool. Its crunch game is likely to be against Southland.
On the second day it is straight knockout, so anything could happen.
Coach Mike Moeahu said the standard in the women's game was improving all the time.
''Both pools are hard and the standard is a lot higher than last year,'' he said.
''We need to be consistent right through our game and take it just one game at a time.''
Otago plays the opening game of the tournament against Waikato, in the tournament's new home of Rotorua.
Moeahu said the team had a break over the Christmas-New Year period in which players did their own individual training and fitness levels were good.
''Playing four games on Saturday is going to be challenging. But the girls worked hard over the break and did not let themselves go.''
The Otago side will be led by Sonia Panapa and also contains Black Ferns Anika Tiplady and Halie Hurring. The team is full of Otago Spirit players and also Junior Black Sticks striker Pip Symes, who supplies pace on the wing.
The side has a couple of youngsters in Sam Hollows and Mikayla Latta - daughter of former Otago skipper David Latta - who have just finished school at South Otago High School and played well for the school side at the Condor sevens tournament early last month.
Hollows was named in the tournament team.
Moeahu said the two South Otago players had fitted into the team well and had a good understanding of sevens.
The side had some games against Southland last weekend, and though Moeahu said they were a tad rusty it was good to get combinations going.
Manawatu won the national tournament last year and will again go in as favourite after winning the Mount Maunganui tournament last weekend.
