DIGICEL Fiji sevens coach Alifereti Dere will use the Uprising Fiji International 7s tournament to prepare the team for the Wellington and Las Vegas tournaments next month.
Fiji Rugby Union confirmed yesterday they will field two teams in the Uprising 7s to be held on January 18 and 19 at Lautoka's Churchill Park.
The two teams will be known as Digicel Fiji Barbarians 7s and the FMF Fiji Warriors 7s.
Earlier, Gordon Tietjens confirmed he was bringing a 'shadow' All Blacks 7s team which will see a mixture of experienced and young New Zealand 7s players playing.
Aussie Thunderbolt, Samoa and Tonga are the other 'shadow' national teams part of the Uprising 7s tournament.
"The standard of competition in our own local tournaments is always first class so what better place to test our top national players than at the Uprising Fiji 7s tournament" Dere said in a statement.
Assistant coach Timoci Wainiqolo added the tournament would give them a good opportunity to work on their game pattern and combinations.
"It is good for us to field two teams which will make it easier to pick our team for the third leg of the IRB World 7s series," Wainiqolo said.
"We also plan to work on our combination and game pattern during the two-day tournament."
Tournament founder and Uprising Resort owner Rene Munch was thrilled with the news and thanked FRU for fielding two teams after sanctioning the tournament earlier.
"I am very happy that the Fiji Rugby Union has decided to field two teams to participate in the tournament.
"This just shows the immense support FRU has in its 7s team and it will give them a good opportunity to trial the boys that are currently in camp before they pick the team for the Wellington 7s."
The annual event will feature sixteen top local and overseas teams.