THE Striders rugby club is aiming to use speed to their advantage in the women's competition at the Uprising Fiji International 7s tournament this weekend.
The club, which was formed two years ago, is mostly made up of girls who were sprinters in athletics during their high school days.
Club administrator Akisi Naiveli said speed was the reason they were called Striders and they were looking forward to stride towards victory.
She said their biggest threat at the tournament would be the defending champions, Marist Seahawks.
The other teams in the tournament that will be played at Lautoka's Churchill Park are Hine Moana and Ricketts.
"We consider all teams to be good but the Marist Seahawks have been our biggest opponents and we expect nothing different," Naiveli said.
"Every team enters a tournament with an aim to win and our aim is the same and we are also looking to expose some of our younger girls in the competition," she said.
"We will bring speed and fitness to the tournament as most of our players are former high school sprinters and that could be our advantage over the other teams which mostly have experience."
Naiveli said some of the players in her side were also involved in other sports and that gave the side the edge in fitness.
"We have Tavai Taravouvou who also plays touch rugby, Laisani Mataele who plays soccer and Akosita Ravato who plays basketball.
"Also, we have some players who have trained in the Fijiana side last year and this time round, we hope to impress national selectors for future competitions," she said.
The tournament will be played this Friday and Saturday in Lautoka.