A number of injuries will mean Auckland teenager Lolagi Visinia will make his New Zealand sevens debut in the Hong Kong and Japan legs of the sevens world series.
The 19-year-old is the only newcomer to the squad but Waikato's Joe Webber has also been called in as injury coverfor Toby Arnold who suffered a knee injury during the Wellington leg of the series.
Arnold (knee), Scott Curry (shoulder), Frank Halai (hamstring) and Solomon King (shoulder) will all be missing from the next two legs as New Zealand look to maintain their five-point lead over Fiji in the series with four rounds remaining.
"We currently lead the series ladder, but we know there are a few teams very close behind us so we'll need to be at the top of our game for this leg,'' coach Gordon Tietjens said.
"We are really looking forward to heading to Asia. Hong Kong is a favourite tournament of ours and we always get well supported there. This will also be the first time we have played in Japan where rugby is really growing in popularity.''
The New Zealand team will wear black arm bands during the Hong Kong tournament as a mark of respect for former All Black and New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs who passed away in Wellington earlier this week.
New Zealand sevens squad: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Mark Jackman (Hawke's Bay), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki), Kylem O'Donnell (Taranaki), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Joe Webber (Waikato).
