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Canada's seven-a-side rugby team takes the first step towards the 2016 Olympics on Friday when it makes its season debut on the International Rugby Board's HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai.

"This year's a big year for us," said Canadian sevens coach Geraint John.

"There is a lot on the line," he added.

The road to Rio is a complicated one, with the Canadians first looking to earn core member status on the world sevens circuit.

Canada has been a part-time player since 2007 — this year, for example, it will take part in five of the nine events.

After Dubai, the Canadians will play in South Africa, New Zealand and U.S. events before taking part in the pivotal Hong Kong sevens in March.

The Hong Kong event will serve to decide the 15 core teams for the 2012-13 series — up from 12 this season.

It is being split into two separate tournaments. One has the current 12 core teams competing against each other and the other has Canada and 11 others competing for three core spots in 2012-13.

The Canadian men will face opposition from the likes of Japan, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Hong Kong.

Core status would mean taking part in 10 tournaments, which John says would be a "huge boost for the game" in Canada.

"The way people talk, we probably are one of the favourites to get that top three spot. But sevens is a one-off game — you can be knocked out and, next minute, you lose that opportunity.

"We have to make sure how we prepare for Hong Kong."

So John and his assistant Kieran Crowley — the two swap hats when it comes to coaching the full 15-man national team — plan to ensure all their players get a run-out before choosing the side for Hong Kong.

The Canadians also have a 2013 World Cup sevens qualifier later in the year.

Choosing a team for Dubai wasn't easy with Rugby Canada identifying 14 players unable to take part due to injury, club or work commitments or retirement.

The Canadian side is a mix of experience and youth led by captain Phil Mack, who has scored more than 600 sevens points.

Mack, Sean Duke, Ciaran Hearn, Nathan Hirayama, John Moonlight and Sean White were all part of the Canadian team that won gold at the Pan American Games in Mexico in October.

Hearn, Hirayama and White were also part of the Canadian squad at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand that preceded the Pan Ams.

"You have to take your hat off to them. They're so committed," John said of such players.

"They want to be part of the sevens, they want to help. They enjoy being on the circuit. But we have to make sure that they also have some down time as well."

The youth movement in Dubai includes 18-year-olds Lukas Balkovec, Lucas Hammond and Conor McCann, who were part of the Canadian team that finished fifth at the Youth Commonwealth Games in September.

"They performed exceptionally well in camp and they deserved to get selected," said John, who is also looking to the future in case some of his overseas pros aren't available.

To that end, John plans to visit some English clubs after the Dubai and South African events to see if he can pry some of his top pros free for Hong Kong.

His other players also have demands on their time.

Unlike some of the top sevens countries, which have sevens players under contract to play nationally, most Canadian players have to juggle the demands of jobs and school.

In Dubai, Canada has been drawn in a tough pool with Australia, Scotland and Wales at the 16-country tournament.

Australia placed fourth at the season-opening event in Australia. Wales was fifth and Scotland 10th.

John, however, says playing the top teams just makes Canada better.

"Nobody really is looking forward to having us in their pool, which is a nice compliment to have," said John.

So far so good for the Canadians on the 2011-12 circuit.

When they stopped in Los Angeles en route to Dubai, they found out they had been bumped up to business class for the 15-hour flight. Emirate Airlines is a sponsor of the sevens tournament.

For blue-collar athletes used to waiting in airports and carrying their own luggage, it was a rare treat.

"I think the first couple (of players) looked at their boarding passes and realized what they had been given and they didn't want to say anything to the other players just in case the other players didn't get it," John said.

John and Crowley also appreciated the extra leg room, no doubt.

John estimates the two of them have been on the road seven and a half months this year.

The Dubai event, which runs through Saturday, also features an IRB women's tournament with Canada taking part.