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The ever improving Argentina are quietly confident of upsetting the apple-cart at this weekend’s NZI Sevens in Wellington.

Currently fifth in the IRB Sevens World Series, the Pumas have impressed all the top teams this season showing a cast iron resolve thus far.

Under captain Santiago Gomez Cora, the IRB Sevens World Series’ all-time leading try scorer, they reached the Cup quarter finals in Dubai and went one better the next weekend in George, where they lost against New Zealand in the semi final.

With South Africa and New Zealand possibly feeling the pressure of being the runaway leaders and tournament hosts respectively, Fiji taking time to settle under new coach Iliesa Tanivula, and Samoa missing both Uale Mai and Lolo Lui, there is scope for the Argentines to take advantage of any potential lapses from the big guns.

Argentina start out in their pool against Canada and also play France, who only arrived in Wellington on Thursday due to problems travelling out of Paris, and England, who currently lie joint-third in the Series alongside the Fijians. The English are obviously the Pumas greatest threat possessing their strongest and most settled squad they have had in years.

"We've trained well all week and today was our final session where we made some small adjustments and went over everything again," said Gomez Cora.

"I think this team has a real will to win, and to learn. The older players have been great all week and the new guys have asked lots of questions and just want to learn from us all the time.

"I think that yesterday's training was one of the best sessions we've had. We played a practice match against Australia, showed plenty in attack and closed them down well in the centre of the field, which was one of the aspects that we had to improve on."

Another major boost for Argentina and Gomez Cora is the return to the side of former captain Lucio Lopez Fleming.

Captain of the team when Argentina won their one solitary Cup victory on the IRB Sevens World Series in Los Angeles in 2004, the diminutive half back gives them some creativity and solidity in decision-making and some sound defense.

His willingness to rejoin the Sevens team underlines just how seriously Argentina are taking the Wellington and San Diego events as warm-ups for a decent assault on the World Cup in Dubai in March.

"It is a joy to have Lucio back in the squad this week because it promises to be a tough one.

"Canada are a very difficult side and you need a lot of patience to play against them. France had problems getting here but you never know with them, they can surprise any team and we know that England are a very powerful, physical side and played really well at the end of 2008."