The Arabian Gulf are targeting a place in the quarterfinals of the Singer Sri Lankan Sevens which kick off in Kandy today.

The Gulf open their challenge for honours with a group game against Kazakhstan, and then face second seeds Korea who are sure to pose the toughest of challenges.

Adrian Kerr's side have the advantage of being able to watch Kazakhstan play Korea early in the afternoon before getting down to action.

Coach John Mamea said: "We're hoping for a quarter-final place and if we achieve that I'll be happy. The aim from the start was to create a bigger player base ahead of the Dubai sevens.

"We've left behind a couple of guys while a couple more are about to become eligible so there will be a lot more competition for places - and that will hopefully help us perform better in our own back yard."

The high possibility of playing in wet and slippery conditions is of less concern to Mamea than the fact that the Gulf's squad lack meaningful match practice.

"Everyone else is better prepared than us," he said. "Because of the long summer break and the fact that our season has not even started, we really lack match fitness - but there's nothing we can do about that. We just have to make the best of this environment."

Mamea, though, is pleased with the way in which his squad of ten has gelled.

"There's a good balance of experience and new players," he said. "Guys like Marcus Smith, Iutoi Tauafiafi and Stephen Cooper who know their way around the IRB circuit have really come through and helped the new players."

Japan kick off the tournament as favourites with Korea expected to be their biggest rivals.

The squad

Adrian Kerr (Dubai Dragons), Stephen Cooper, Marcus Smith, Jonny Blackburn (all Dubai Exiles), Francois Coetzer (Dubai Exiles), Sean Hurley, Amir Mohammed, Dushan Raveendrakumar (all Dubai Dragons), James Tometzki (Dubai Hurricanes), Lutoi Tauafiafi (Dubai Dragons).

Groups:
Pool A: Japan, Thailand, Singapore
Pool B: Hong Kong, China, Malaysia
Pool C: Korea, Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan
Pool D: Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Guam.