Sport: Fiji, Samoa targeting fast start at Dubai 7s

Fiji are hoping to snap a run of slow starts when they kick off the defence of the Men's World Sevens Series title in Dubai this week, in what marks the first step in a blockbuster season that will culminate at the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite winning 10 of the 20 World Series legs over the past two seasons the Olympic champions haven't tasted success in the season opening leg in the UAE since 2016.

They could only manage a fifth place finish in Dubai 12 months ago, after being beaten by the USA in the Cup quarter finals, and captain Paula Dranisinukula, who missed last year's Dubai event with a broken leg, said the team is desperate to start with a bang.

"We need to start early on the series, win a tournament early, in order to be satisfied on the end of the series and then concentrate on the Olympics," he said.

Fiji's opening's pool match is against Japan on Thursday evening local time, followed by matchups against Argentina and France on Friday.

Despite beating the Olympic hosts twice during last month's Oceania Sevens, Fiji coach Gareth Baber said Japan were a team on the rise.

"They're going for it, they're going at it and obviously they've got a home tournament and why wouldn't they? They had an excellent World Cup recently and I'm sure they want to capitalise on the momentum of that," he said.

"The players that came out here (to Fiji) - I've seen a number of them play in the World Series previously. They brought a lot of development players as well and I think their program is a good one: I think it's being run well, I think they're smart with it and we've talked about it as a group as well that our first out job of work in Dubai is going to be making sure that we focus on ourselves and get our job done."

Kavekini Tabu, 25, is poised to make his World Series debut against Japan after being named in Fiji's final 13-man squad alongside older siblings, Sevuloni Mocenacagi and Isoa Tabu.

Samoa seeking further improvement

Samoa are hoping to put a disruptive week behind them when they kick off their tournament against Canada overnight.

Laaloi Leilua was forced to return home from Dubai at the weekend to be with his month old daughter, who contracted the measles virus.

Coach Sir Gordon Tietjens has named three debutants in his final squad, with Losi Filipo, Tuna Tuitama and Pacific Games track and field star Kelvin Masoe set to be unleashed on Canada, Wales and New Zealand over the next two days.

The Manu 7s have shown steady improvement since Sir Gordon took charge in 2017 - finishing 13th in his first tour of duty in charge, 10th in his sophomore campaign and sixth last season.

The former All Blacks Sevens mentor believes the squad will contend for a top four finish this time around and said everyone is determined to begin the season on a positive note.

"It's an exciting team, we trained very well all this week under pressure (after) losing Laaloi Leilua during the week was a little disruptive but the guys I know will be going out to play for him," he said. "It's a big tournament for us because we need a good start."

As well three new faces, Sir Gordon said it has also been great to welcome back some experienced players who have performed well for them in the past.

"Alamanda Motuga, of course Tomasi Alosio - those guys who are coming back: Tofatu Solia, Joe Perez, so there are some very very good players there - and Belgium Tuatagaloa as well is also there and gives us a lot of experience," he said.

"Exciting times for us, we will certainly be giving it everything and certainly for the people back in Samoa. There's a lot of feeling within the team: we're going to be playing for each other and playing for the country tomorrow and I can assure you the guys will be giving it 200 percent."

The Women's World Sevens Series also resumes in Dubai on Thursday, with Fiji still seeking their first win of the new season.

The Fijiana suffered defeats by Canada, Australia, Spain and Japan during the opening leg in Glendale, Colorado in October, where they finished 11th of 12 teams, and open their campaign in the desert with rematches against the Olympic champion Australians and Spain before rounding out pool play against Ireland.