KEY POINTS:
Chiefs winger Roy Kinikinilau can expect a heavy workload in this weekend's international sevens rugby tournament in London as New Zealand seek to keep their hopes of winning the world series alive.
Kinikinilau, along with versatile Highlanders forward Alando Soakai, will be expected to provide the extra pace and grunt to Gordon Tietjens' side who are in third place overall, 14 points behind series leaders Fiji with two tournaments remaining.
Ben Atiga is the third Super 14 player Tietjens has called into his side but the skilful Blues utility back, who is coming under the sevens guru's wing for the first time, might be held back as a surprise package.
"The three Super 14 players have worked extra hard in the last few days to get up to speed with the other players," Tietjens said.
"Roy has played a lot for us, he's very experienced and is a real game breaker.
"He's someone who's been valuable to us in the past and will be used a lot this weekend."
Tietjens has been short of a tearaway winger in his team this season and Kinikinilau's availability will go some way toward easing that problem.
"Ben's new, so for the first tournament he will be gathering as much as he can about the game, but he's gifted and very skilful.
"He's getting better and better in training -- if he can produce what he does in 15s, he certainly will be a very good sevens player."
Atiga's presence is likely to strengthen the team's defence.
Tietjens, who masterminded six consecutive IRB titles between 1999 and 2005, still has his eyes on the prize.
New Zealand were second in Dubai and won the South African leg but were knocked out in the semifinals of the other four tournaments which saw Fiji (104 points) and Samoa (94) climb to first and second place.
"We need to win this one, or be there or there abouts, and we certainly wouldn't want Fiji to get to the final, so that's how close it is," Tietjens said.
He said any one of the other top six teams -- South Africa, England and France -- could still win the series.
"That's how close we are.
"It's there to win but we've got to play very, very well to win these next two tournaments."
Auckland's DJ Forbes will again captain the New Zealand side in the absence of injured veteran Tafai Ioasa.
New Zealand's pool opponents starting on Saturday night (NZ time) are Kenya, Italy and Scotland.
New Zealand
Ben Atiga (Auckland), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Auckland), DJ Forbes (Auckland, captain), Nigel Hunt (Wellington), Roy Kinikinilau (Waikato), Zar Lawrence (North Harbour), Afeleke Pelenise (Tasman), Lote Raikabula (Hawke's Bay), Alando Soakai (Otago), Adam Thomson (Otago), Steven Yates (Canterbury)
Standings (after six rounds)
Fiji 104, Samoa 94, New Zealand 90, South Africa 80, England 48, France 28, Australia 26, Scotland 18, Kenya 16, Wales 14, Tonga 10
- NZPA
