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Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu has an even more daunting task than usual for the upcoming 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, with only eight contracted players available and the title to defend.

Treu used 17 players in the last IRB Sevens World Series en route to the title and is looking to find a new crop to step into the boots of the squad that won the Series which has been dominated by New Zealand since it began.

Using just 17 players throughout the eight World Series events meant that continuity of selection helped them become the most consistent side, winning three Cup titles and one Plate, as well as once finishing Cup runners-up and twice reaching the Cup semi finals.

"We start our testing and training next Monday," Treu said on Wednesday.

"We'll be inviting identified players from then on as an ongoing exercise to see who is up to the challenge.

"I'm not announcing a squad at this stage," he said and added the sifting process for talent would go on through a number of Sevens tournaments over the next two months.

"We'll be playing with two teams in the Windhoek tournament at the end of the month, and then we'll again be at the Middelburg tournament towards the end of October, and in Singapore in the first weekend of November. This will give us ample opportunity to test the players properly."

Dubai, will once again host the first leg of the IRB Sevens tournament in the 2009/10 series on December 4 and 5 before the Series moves to South Africa later in the month.

New look Boks?

Treu has about nine vacancies from last year to fill, including that of Vuyo Zangqa who was seriously injured in a car accident, Marius Schoeman who has retired, and the three Free State players Robert Ebersohn, Phillip Snyman and Lions Mapoe.

He aims to up the number this year however and contract 20 players for the series but all is not lost from the successful side last year.

Treu will be turn to several senior players who will be available again in Mzwandile Stick, Frankie Horn, Renfred Dazel and Mpho Mbiyozo, to help the new players in a year that also saw them win the bronze medal at the World Games. But there are still plenty of places up for grabs.

Newly contracted player Cecil Africa, is an exciting signing after having spent some time in the Emerging Boks side, and there must be a great chance that Treu will persuade MJ Mentz, now with the Pumas, to come back to Sevens.

"I've already had discussions with the Blue Bulls, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Western Province about their young talent and have attended the Under-18 internationals over the past few weeks. 

"There is some exciting talent in this category, but some of the under-18s are still in Grade 11 and cannot therefore be considered for higher honours right now.

"A few of the under-18s will nevertheless be invited to the training camp for testing and with a view of getting them prepared for the challenge over the next few years that will peak in 2016 at the Olympic Games."

South Africa are not the only side with the Series already on their mind as Fiji head coach Iliesa Tanivula is looking to improve on last year's runners-up position.