Dubai: Fiji are aiming to follow the example set last year by their South Pacific brothers Samoa and earn promotion in the IRB Under-19 World Championship.

The islanders launch their challenge for Division B honours tonight against Italy at the Exiles. And coach Joshua Toakula says the entire squad is focused on just one aim.

"Our target is automatic qualification for Division A," he said.

Good chance

"That's our mission. We must not under-estimate anyone but we think that we have a good chance and are confident about it."

While Fiji are an established force at senior level and on the world sevens stage, it may come as a surprise to learn that the side had to qualify for the Dubai and Sharjah-hosted event.

But Toakula believes that a new selection policy is about to pay rich dividends.

"At this age level we used to only pick from secondary schools," he said. "Now we've opened it up to cover everyone. We have a well balanced team and we're back to playing like the 'Flying Fijians' the world knows about."

Andrew Durutalo, a hooker who can also play at prop, will lead the team out tonight the first time he has ever captained a side. The 18-year-old said: "We have confidence in ourselves but will take the tournament one step at a time."

Fiji suffered a late blow when exciting winger Randall Kamea had to withdraw from the travelling squad. Toakula added: "He could not be released because of his studies. I feel sorry for him. Randall would have been a big asset but it cannot be helped."

The shock of failing to qualify for last year's Under-19 world championship is driving Canada to secure a top six placing this time round in Dubai and Sharjah. Gary Johnston, who coached the North Americans in the inaugural senior world cup in 1987 and was his nation's forwards coach for Australia 2003, has been appointed to "right the ship" and ensure there are no slip ups this time.

He said: "We feel that this squad is one of the best-prepared Canadian teams ever to come to the world championship.

"And we have taken extra time and care with our preparation because we did not qualify last year. The top 24 teams ? and we weren't there. That was a shock."

Suitably steeled for the job in hand, Canada qualified from the NAWIRA Tournament in Kingston, Jamaica, without conceding a try on the way to wins over Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Jamaica.

And that momentum was maintained with wins over two USA sides in Arizona in February before stopping in England en route for Dubai where the squad defeated Welbeck College but then lost 29-13 to the Leicester Tigers Academy.

FAST FACTS

  • 24 nations competing in two 12-team divisions.
  • Total of 10 match days.
  • Six games staged on each match day. Three take place at Sharjah Wanderers and three take place at Dubai Exiles.
  • Division A match days are April 5, April 9, April 13, April 17 and April 21
  • Division B match days are April 4, April 8, April 12, April 16 and April 20
  • Current world champions are South Africa.
  • Georgia were relegated last year from Division A. Samoa were promoted from Division B.