FORMER local sevens giants Nabua have been placed in a tough pool at today's Central Coast 7s tournament to be played at Wyong League club ground in Central Coast, Australia.
Nabua will face Associates, West Harbour and Samurai International in pool play which starts this morning.
Nabua was the top sevens team in the country in the 1980s and majority of players from that team made it into the national side.
The Maroons will play Associates in its first outing. The side will face the highly-rated Samurai side in the final pool match this afternoon.
Samurai International has named a number of All Black 7s players in their team for this tournament.
Some players who are expected to appear for Samurai include Belguim Tuatagaloa, Kylem O'Donnell and Iopu Iopu who all played for New Zealand during the opening IRB Sevens World Series tournament at Gold Coast early this month.
The team is expected to be reinforced by the presence of former Kiwi 7s stars and Auckland Blues Super Rugby players Orene Ai'i and Nafi Tuitavake.
Samurai is one of a number of teams boasting international players who regularly play on the world stage and is also one of the favourites to take out the top prizemoney in the one-day tournament.
The Timoci Wainiqolo-coached Wardens team is another top favourite in this tournament.
The side will be captained by Digicel 7s skipper Lepani Botia and he will be supported by fellow national teammates Joji Ragamate, Ilai Tinai and Alipate Ratini.