FIJI sevens head coach Alifereti Dere is rating New Zealand and South Africa highly at the Hong Kong 7s tournament.
He said South Africa would be the team to beat but pointed out that the Kiwis remained the most consistent team this season.
Proven by stats, New Zealand has reached all Cup quarter-finals in the past five tournaments. They won the South Africa tournament, were runners-up in Gold Coast, Dubai and Las Vegas and finished second on their home soil in Wellington.
Paul Treu's Blitzboks were in top form after winning the Las Vegas tournament. They are the only unbeaten team at a single tournament this season in USA.
"Looking at the series I think New Zealand is the most consistent team at the moment," he said.
Dere said South Africa remained a threat in the series.
"South Africa is the team to beat. After winning in Las Vegas they proved they are the in-form team," he said.
South African man mountain Cornal Hendricks and Chris Dry are expected to spark the Boks campaign at Happy Valley.
Both players have a combine tally of 42 tries in five tournaments.
Fiji could play South Africa in the quarter-final if Dere's men win their Pool D and South Africa finish as runners-up in Pool A.
Fiji plays its opening game against Hong Kong at 9.06pm tomorrow.