On the charge ... Pama Fou (C) is one of the few Aussie boys returning from the Gold Coast. Source: AAP
Dubai plays host to the second of nine legs in the men's IRB Sevens World Series this Friday and Saturday, and it's also the start of the Women's World Series.
Australia is represented in both the men's and women's draw as the world's top sevens talent continue the long build-up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Just like his Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans, Aussie Sevens Coach Michael O'Connor has also had his share of bad luck on the injury front.
Senior players like Captain Ed Jenkins and Jesse Parahi have been ruled out along with playmakers Alan Fa'alava'au, Lewis Holland, Jacob Taylor and league convert Shannon Walker.
In fact 12 of the 22 contracted Sevens players are on the injured list, so O'Connor's job this week in Dubai and next week in Port Elizabeth is not an enviable one as he tries to make a bunch of youngsters competitive.
He has five 19-year-olds in the 12-man touring squad. Just four players, Sean McMahon, Will Miller, Jordan Tuapou and Pama Fou are backing up from the opening event on the Gold Coast in October.
Greg Jeloudev, Damon Anderson and Cameron Clark are returning from injury, while Junior Laloifi, Peter Lee, Nick Malouf and Jack Grant are set to make their debut.
Con Foley will captain the side in Jenkins's absence and while the team has a development feel about it, they do have what appears to be a favourable draw.
Australia are in Pool D with France, Canada and the USA, so if the youngsters can click from the outset they have a good chance of at least advancing through to the top eight and the Cup quarter-finals on day two.
It will be valuable experience for the young men and hopefully O'Connor will have a full squad to choose from when the series heads to Wellington in February, followed by Las Vegas, Hong Kong, Tokyo, England, Scotland.
Then it's onto Moscow for the Sevens World Cup next June.
Meanwhile, Dubai is the first of four tournaments in the new Women's World Series. Australia coach Chris Lane has also named a new-look side with four uncapped players included. The experienced Rebecca Tavo will captain the team.
12 nations will compete with Australia in the same pool as the Netherlands, France and the United States.
Catch live coverage of the day two action on Fox Sports from 4pm (EDT) Saturday.
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