Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

National sevens rugby team Shujaa descends on Bankwest Stadium to contest in the fifth edition of the Sydney Sevens.

Shujaa are set to kick off title campaign against the series defending champions Fiji at 6.09am Saturday and close Day One action against bottom-placed Wales at 12.05pm. 

Coach Paul Feeney is hopeful for a better spoil after finishing above Fiji and South Africa in New Zealand the past weekend. 

“In Hamilton we were pleased to finish eighth ahead of South Africa and Fiji and we are looking forward to Sydney. 

“It could have been a little bit better but very unlikely we did not make it to the semi-finals. We missed a couple of kickoffs and sevens is all about possession and to build pressure,” said coach Paul Feeney, who has given nod to Herman Humwa to feature at Bankwest Stadium.

Shujaa technician switched the 13th player Herman Humwa to replace fellow forward Vincent Onyala as a move signalling a rampaging Shujaa will be on hunt this weekend led by six experienced players who have clocked over thirty tournaments.

Among the errors that cost Shujaa the sole chance to top the Pool B standings in Hamilton will be addressed with the lineup and substitutions that must have Feeney deploy his best seven to start against Fiji who are savoured Dubai 7s revenge against South Africa off a 12-5 ninth place finish in Hamilton to finish behind Kenya.

Among the most experienced is scoring machine Collins Injera, who will be stepping into his 81st tournament, and captain Andrew Amonde tasting his 74th. Other key players include Willy Ambaka, Billy Odhiambo, Nelson Oyoo and Bush Mwale. The favourites to start against Fiji is the duo of Collins Injera and Willy Ambaka who are both good in kickoffs and hunting for first blood.

Forward duo of the captain Andrew Amonde and Alvin Otieno ‘Buffa’ will also be top cards for coach Feeney’s starting pick. On the backline, the trio to assist Collins Injera could have Nelson Oyoo in the wing courtesy of holding the licence to speed against Fiji earned in the 2016 Singapore Sevens Cup finals that Kenya won 30-7. DHL impact player contention will also be up for grabs for Kenyan players led by assistant captain Jeff Oluoch, Alvin Otieno and Johnstone Olindi whereas Collins Injera will be out to rocket his current 273 World series tries record.

Feeney will meet fellow New Zealander and newly appointed Fiji coach Vern Cotter, a fellow former and two-time Super rugby winner who has just like Shujaa 57-year-old Feeney marked a new journey as professional national sevens team coach.

Kenya sank South Africa 36-14, a vengeful pool match that saw Kenya finish second in pool for the second straight time and among the errors that cost Shujaa the sole chance to top the Pool B standings in Hamilton have been addressed to predict changes in the starting lineup that must have Feeney deploy his best seven to start against Fiji who also savoured Dubai 7s revenge against South Africa to pin the Springboks 12-5 to finish behind Kenya.                 – Alex Njue