REIGNING Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Australia will be wary of the hot conditions when the side participates in the Oceania Women's Sevens Championship which starts in Lautoka tomorrow.
The Australians arrived in the country yesterday afternoon with three members from the 2009 WRWCS winning side. They include Rebecca Tavo, Tricia Brown and Bo De La Cruz.
Australia is grouped in Pool A with Samoa, Solomon Islands and Papua Guinea.
Former Australia 7s captain Tim Walsh, who is part of the coaching panel, said they had one day to try and acclimatise to the conditions.
He said there would be pressure on the team to perform as world champions.
"We have had good preparations for the tournament," Walsh said.
"We have had good four or five days in Sydney. The girls trained really well. They are ready to rumble. Possibly the heat will be a problem as it has been quite cool in Sydney with the rain.
"But Australians are used to the heat as well though this will be a notch higher. It certainly hit us as we got off the plane. But that's all part of rugby."
Australia will take on the Solomon Islands at 12.22pm at Churchill Park tomorrow. The side will play Papua New Guinea at 2.46pm and then take on Samoa at 3.46pm.
Walsh said they had an experienced side.
He said this was his first tour with the team.
"Every time they run on to the field there is a bit of pressure," Walsh said.
"But the team is quite experienced. There are a few young girls that have come in. There will be pressure and anxiety but they are prepared to give it their best shot.
"There are a few players who were part of the 2009 winning team. They have been good leaders for the younger girls as well. So their influence is vital in this tournament."
Walsh represented the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby from 1999-2004 and 2010-2011.
The flyhalf also spent several seasons playing in the Guinness Championship for the Worcester Warriors, Birmingham and Solihull RFC.
The 33-year-old has come through the junior ranks representing the Australia Schoolboys, Australia U19 and the Australia U21 teams.
The OWSC will severe as the regional qualifiers for the 2013 WRWCS in Russia.
Australia and New Zealand automatically qualified for next year's event after reaching the final in the 2009 tournament.