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New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has named his squad for the first two legs of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai and George.

Tietjens today named a squad containing a mix of old hands and two new faces in Bay of Plenty's Toby Arnold and Wellington's Buxton Popoalii.

The rest of the squad has a familiar look to it with Sevens legends DJ Forbes and Zar Lawrence once again included, as are the likes of Tomasi Cama, Ben Souness, Paul Grant who all played a part last season.

Flying wing Kurt Baker returns to the squad after impressing hugely in London and Edinburgh, the leading try scorer in each. Talented flanker Onosai Auva'a is another one to be included after just missing out on a Super 14 contract with the Auckland Blues.

Tietjens has guided the Kiwis to eight of the 10 world series contested since 1999, but went through their worst year to date last year finishing a disappointing fourth without winning a leg.

“Last season had its challenges with the injuries we suffered, but these first two tournaments are a good opportunity for us to start fresh and also begin building towards next year’s Commonwealth Games,” said Tietjens.

"Toby and Buxton, both fullbacks for their provinces, have got wide range of skill suited to sevens -- they are very quick and very evasive.

"They lack experience at international level but are capable footballers and I'm expecting big things from them."

Earlier this month, Tietjens expressed concerns about the fitness levels of his players because of a mandatory two-week break following the end of the provincial competition.

Yet he is satisfied after spending the last week pushing his squad through a rigorous training regime.

"We may be a bit underdone, but perhaps we will go into these two tournament fresh," he told the NZPA.

"We have worked pretty hard in getting up to speed in the past week and yesterday, we had a tournament simulation in which we played four games against a composite Waikato side a Bay of Plenty side and among ourselves."

New Zealand have been grouped with World Cup Sevens finalists Argentina as well as Portugal and France in Pool D for the opening leg of the series in Dubai on December 4-5.

New Zealand Sevens squad for Dubai and South Africa:
Onosai Auva’a (Auckland), Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Kurt Baker (Manawatu), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Buxton Popoalii (Wellington), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Souness, (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau), Save Tokula (Waikato)