Dubai - South Africa's Seabelo Senatla and Werner Kok have been identified as two players who are sure to set the opening round of the HSBC Sevens Series in Dubai alight this weekend.
Senatla scored 47 tries last season, finishing as the leading try-scorer by eight tries and was a nominee for the Sevens Player-of-the-Year award.
He stole the show in the early stages as South Africa took an early lead after winning the Dubai and South Africa Sevens tournaments. The scorer of perhaps the try of the season in last year's Dubai final against Australia, Senatla has bags of pace and is a key part to Neil Powell's side's success.
Meanwhile Kok, who pipped Senatla to the post in the Sevens Player-of-the-Year awards, was also the player of the tournament in Hong Kong.
Kok mixed speed, power and character in South Africa's backline to devastating effect. Both these men are likely to play key roles for the Blitzbokke this season as they search for only a second World Series title.
The Blitzbokke start their campaign in Dubai on Friday against Samoa and are joined in Pool-B by Scotland and Russia.
Other players to look out for at the start of what will be a groundbreaking year for the game of Sevens include New Zealand's Scott Curry who has taken over the captaincy from the legendary DJ Forbes.
Curry was at the forefront of all things good about New Zealand's season and will undoubtedly thrive under the pressure that will come as the 13-times series winner's captain.
Two players who are likely to make some waves in the desert are Canadians Phil Mack and Nathan Hirayam.
Both of these players will be returning from Rugby World Cup 2015 ready to head full throttle into the road to the Rio Olympics. Together they are a formidable partnership with Mack's knowledge, experience and guile, while Hirayama applies the gloss with his mesmerising passing of the ball.
England will, on the other hand, be banking on Dan Norton's experience as they look to get their campaign off to a solid start. With players from Wales, Scotland and England all aiming to put their hands up for a place in the Team GB side set to compete in Rio, Norton will be looking to stay fit and get his game firing.
He is a very dangerous weapon for any side and thrives in the heat and speed of the Dubai Sevens. Perhaps one of the most exciting players on the Sevens circuit, Jerry Tuwai of Fiji, who was last year's sevens rookie of the year, should provide fans with something to cheer about.
Often the creator of tries for Fiji's wide men, Samisoni Viriviri and Savenaca Rawaca, Tuwai has been compared to having skills and a step similar to that of William Ryder and the great Waisale Serevi. He will be integral to Fiji's success, but interesting to see how opposing coaches look to prevent Tuwai dictating play the way he did last season.
African News Agency