The Sydney showpiece marks the first tournament for the year and despite losing key players such as Chris Dry and Branco du Preez to injury, the team has been strengthened by the likes of Dylan Sage and Stedman Gans while Stormers and Western Province loose forward, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, could make his Blitzboks debut.

Neil Powell’s chargers have been drawn in Pool C alongside England, Spain and Papua New Guinea but Blitzboks strongman, Tim Agaba, says regardless of the draw, the team is aiming for an improved performance than of their last outing in Cape Town.

Agaba says: "The boys have been hard at work, working towards the Sydney and Hamilton leg of the series.

"We come off the back of what we would have hoped to be a better Cape Town tournament but we hope, in the next two (tournaments), to be very successful.

Of the two tournaments played so far, the Blitzboks defended their Dubai title in early December, followed by a semi-final exit in their own backyard in Cape Town, which was won by New Zealand.

The results mean that New Zealand currently lead the series followed by South Africa and Fiji.

The Blitzboks get their Sydney campaign underway at 09:22 on Friday when they face Papua New Guinea.