All Blacks Sevens face Fiji, Australia and Kenya in Hong Kong pool play

Fiji may have won the last four Hong Kong Sevens tournaments and sit just below
New Zealand on the series' standings but they are no bigger threat to the Kiwi side than any other team they face in the competition.

The All Blacks Sevens play Australia first up in Pool C of the tournament, which starts today and runs until Sunday. They will also face Kenya before their final game of pool play against Fiji.

Captain Scott Curry says the squad always has a good battle with Fiji and while they expect a tough game against them, they expect the same against every other team and will go into today's competition focused on their own game rather than any other team.

"You never know, the first games are always pretty tough and Aussie, they're a very good side and we can't take any of those teams lightly. Kenya and Fiji are both finalists here last year and obviously Fiji hasn't lost a game here in Hong Kong for a few years now so they'll definitely be tough no matter what," Curry says.

"You just can't take anything lightly," he says.

Hong Kong is a tournament that Fiji has won every year since 2015. New Zealand last won in 2014.

Going into a tournament with a pretty solid team, including Curry, Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, Andrew Knewstubb, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Jona Nareki, Tone Ng Shiu, Joe Ravouvou, Akuila Rokolisoa, Regan Ware and Joe Webber back from about a year off, the team is looking to break Fiji's winning streak.

"It's the pinnacle event of the series so everyone's pretty excited," Curry says.

"We've got a big focus on what we're doing."

After Hong Kong the team heads to Singapore for the next round of the series on April 13-14.

With just days between tournaments, Curry says they'll analyse their efforts from Hong Kong, recover then put in training for their next campaign. USA sit in the top spot of the standings, followed by New Zealand and Fiji.

Hong Kong Sevens schedule:
NZ vs Australia: Saturday, 12.15am.
NZ vs Kenya: Saturday, 5.51pm.
NZ vs Fiji: Saturday, 9.55pm.

2018/2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Schedule
Dubai: December 1 - 1st.
Cape Town, December 8-9 - 4th.
Hamilton: January 26-27 - 3rd.
Sydney: February 2-3 - 1st.
Las Vegas: March 1-3 - 3rd.
Vancouver: March 9-10 - 5th.
Hong Kong: April 5-7.
Singapore: April 13-14.
London: May 25-26.
Paris: June 1-2.