Australia won't see their 15-a-side rugby stars until later in the men's sevens world series - and won't have Samu Kerevi at all - but coach Tim Walsh reckons they can still surprise their rivals in Sydney this week.
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Walsh's team will come into the Australian-hosted round off a bright third placing in New Zealand where his seasoned sevens specialists and a clutch of newcomers made it clear no player will have a free ride into the Olympics squad.
Super Rugby pair Jack Maddocks (Waratahs) and Tom Cusack (Brumbies) are available for selection to the Tokyo Games in July, along with Japan-based former Wallaby Sean McMahon.
Walsh had also shown interest in luring Wallabies star Kerevi across to the shortened format this year but that possibility has subsided since the potential match-winner shifted to Japan.
Maddocks, Cusack and McMahon will have opportunities to showcase their Olympic credentials at some point during the remaining seven world series tournaments but Walsh confirmed it won't happen in Sydney.
"These guys have all played a fair bit of sevens so they know the game but we'll still want to see them," he told AAP.
"It's an ongoing process but there's a bit of a plan around when they'll play."
After coaching the women's team to gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Walsh will adopt a similar mentality with the men over the next six months.
Everything will be aimed at peaking for one event, although he won't ignore the importance of success on the world circuit.
"From experience, the best way to play it is to build combinations and set out to do your best at each tournament," he said.
"There is still a chance to give guys rest. There will be some strategic decisions made because if you're only going to win one tournament this year, then you'd want it to be the Olympics."
Walsh's squad for Sydney may closely resemble his group that fully deserved their bronze medal in Hamilton.
The exception is Ben O'Donnell, who has already been ruled out with a knee injury suffered on Sunday that is still to be fully diagnosed.
Delighted to win comprehensively in pool games against Argentina, Samoa and England, Walsh singled out the strides made by Josh Turner, Henry Hutchison and Lachie Anderson.
However he felt they undersold themselves in their two narrow losses - in pool play to Fiji and in the semi-final against a New Zealand team playing at a level that makes them the clear Sydney favourites.
Australian Associated Press
