South Africa's plans to dethrone the All Blacks and Fiji as the powerhouses of Sevens rugby are on course.

SARFU's manager of Sevens rugby Mahlubi Puzi believes the national Sevens team is ready to take up the challenge in the International Rugby Board's World Series which starts later this month in Durban.

SARFU spoke to the country's best exponents of the abbreviated version of rugby last week about possible contracts and the players were tested at the Sports Science Institute. Puzi expects a much better performance from the team this time around.

The SA Sevens team should again have all the regular players of last year like Jacques Olivier, Andries Fourie, Warren Britz, Dirkie Strydom, Thobela Mdaka (pictured), Helgard Brink and Johan Calitz available. Britz and Western Province star Jeffrey Stevens could, however, be ruled out by Vodacom Super 12 commitments.

Puzi is hopeful that the provincial Sevens tournament taking place in Durban this weekend will produce some exciting new stars. "It's important for SARFU because it helps to establish the culture of Sevens rugby. It is also going to assist the selectors to see players from all over the country in action and that will be a big help in the selection process.

"In the past they had to rely on performances in the 15-man code to select teams," Puzi told a newspaper.

Meanwhile, the IRB have announced the draws for the first two tournaments in the World Series, the Air Emirates tournament in Durban and Dubai. It takes place from respectively November 17 to 19 and November 22 to 24. In Durban South Africa are in a tough Pool D with Samoa, Georgia and Morocco.

In Dubai things look a bit brighter for the South Africans because they are drawn with Canada, Wales and Zimbabwe in Pool D. They are seeded fourth and should proceed to the semifinals.

Draw for Durban tournament:

POOL A: New Zealand, France, Portugal, Namibia; POOL B: Fiji, Canada, Wales, Kenia; POOL C: Australia, Argentina, England, Zimbabwe; POOL D: South Africa, Samoa, Georgia, Morocco.