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New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens will be out recapture the World Series title when the 09/10 season kicks off in Dubai on Friday.

Tietjens' team is missing some stars from the gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games side, but the vastly experienced sevens coach isn't too concerned.

 "The likes of Zac Guildford, Liam Messam, Sherwin Stowers and Fritz Lee are all with Super 15 squads now, but I've retained a strong nucleus for the world series," he said.

"Our objective for the last year was, first and foremost, to win that (Commonwealth) gold medal, that was right up at the top, and then the World series.

"This year, it's just the World Series."

Six newcomers have been named in a side which will contest the opening two legs of the International Rugby Board sevens series in Dubai and South Africa.

A core of experience is provided by captain DJ Forbes, Lote Raikabula, Tomasi Cama, Tim Mikkelson and Toby Arnold, who were all part of the gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games squad last month.

New Zealand has been drawn in Pool B alongside Argentina, USA and Zimbabwe, with their first scheduled match against the Americans on Friday.

"It's never an easy draw. I mean Argentina could bring a very, very good side - you just would never have any idea," Tietjens said.

With the Americans always competitive, he is wary ahead of the eight-tournament series opener.

"That first tournament, you're sort of going into the unknown a little bit, and you're always cautious. We'll have to play every game as a final."

The New Zealanders won last year's season opener in Dubai, but missed out on the overall title, finishing second behind Samoa. The previous year, the title was won by South Africa, and Tietjens is keen to see sevens supremacy return to New Zealand.

"It's been a long time between drinks and I do look for perfection, and that means going out and winning another world series," he said.

"We've won eight, but haven't won it the last two years - we were second last year and fourth the year before, but sevens has got a lot closer."

Tietjens has pinpointed 2005 world series winners Fiji as posing a real threat to New Zealand's hopes.

"People might see us as the team to beat and clearly we will be going all out to win in Dubai and win the world series, but I think the sleeping giant is Fiji this year," he said.

"They were not at the Commonwealth Games, which was a real shame for them, but they'll go quietly about their business. They play sevens week in and week out in Fiji and I think that they will bring a very good side."

New Zealand sevens squad:
DJ Forbes (captain, Counties Manukau), Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Scott Curry (Manawatu), Frank Halai (Waikato), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Jack McPhee (North Harbour), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Declan O'Donnell (Waikato), Jackson Ormond (Taranaki), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki)