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Darwin is bracing itself for the ‘Heineken Hottest 7s in the World’, which is in town this weekend. Many of the leading IRB Sevens World Series regulars will be on show in preparation for a gruelling schedule with NZI Sevens, USA Sevens, and a World Cup on the horizon.

Predictably the favorites for the $20,000 AUD kitty are the three-time winners the South Sea Drifters, Fiji. The feature the nucleus of Waisale Serevi's Fiji Sevens squad including the 40 year old little maestro himself.

Hot on their heels will be Digicel Samoa Barbarians who are primarily made up the Samoan national players, recent winners of the prestigious Punta del Este Sevens in Uruguay earlier this month.

Ofisa Treviranus captains a side packed with international pedigree and will be ably supported by the delights of Reupena Levasa, Simaika Mikaele, Apelu Faai’uga, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Alatasi Tupou, Mikaele Pesamino, Timoteo Iosua and Morgan Salesa. The rest of the 28-team strong draw could be playing catch up.

2008 finalists Aussie Spirit compete again and count within their squad many of the Australian national side, headed up by team coach Michael O'Connor.

O'Connor admitted that his players had suffered from a lack of fitness against the world's top teams in Dubai and George at the end of 2008 and will be keen to use the Darwin event as a test bed for the upcoming Series events, and the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai on 5-7 March, where Australia will play Samoa in their pool.

“Samoa is a very dangerous side, they have a good record against Australia,” O’Connor, a former Wallaby, said. “Over the past few years Australia hasn’t had too many wins over Samoa.

“We’re getting used to the big crowds, and the players now have a lot of appetite."

ULR Samurai International, one of the premier invitational powerhouses on the global circuit are always a handful, mixing experienced campaigners with youngsters from England, Australia, and New Zealand. Former Aussie sevens player Tim Walsh captains the side and is excited about his prospects.

“This year we have recruited the current world's best sevens player and Samurai veteran Ben Gollings of England. We also have twenty-time IRB tournament veteran from Australia Ant Sauer and 2008 Australian Schoolboy Kenny Robinson, many players have launched their international career through representing Samurai,” said Walsh.

The draw for the seven-team women’s competition in Darwin provides a battle for places in the Australian squad to compete at the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

The Wallaroos beat New Zealand in qualifying to secure the Oceania region's top spot.

Zonnators are top seeds in Darwin and consist of the nucleus of the Australian squad based in Sydney, the Red Stingers from Queensland and East’s Tigers from Brisbane are seeded two and three.