Australia plan to storm this week's Oceania rugby sevens tournament with arguably their strongest team since Rio's Olympics, in an attempt to lock in a Tokyo 2020 Olympics berth by Saturday.
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Fringe Wallabies back Jack Maddocks will play on Thursday, having joined the program on loan since narrowly missing World Cup selection.
Rio Olympian Tom Cusack returns while Jesse Parahi could only squeeze into the side as the 13th man after being one of Australia's best at the Commonwealth Games.
Overlooked former Wallabies flyer Rod Davies is part of the extended squad in Suva while one-time sprinter Trae Williams, who announced his move from the track to rugby in May, is progressing well and likely to debut in the world series to give coach Tim Walsh another speedy option next year.
Walsh's side, seventh in the last world series, can book their Tokyo ticket with victory in Suva, where sixth-ranked Samoa shape as their biggest threat.
New Zealand and Fiji, having already sealed Olympic berths, will compete in a separate pool and only play Australia once the Tokyo quota spot is determined on Saturday.
A third and final opportunity to qualify exists at a tournament on the eve of the Games next year, but Walsh is keen to avoid that last-minute route.
Samoa beat Australia in the battle for Oceania bronze a year ago, while they also upset Australia 21-20 on their way to a Las Vegas Sevens grand final appearance in March.
They are likely to meet again in a high-stakes qualification duel on Saturday, but a pool game against Tonga has Walsh's immediate attention.
"Tonga are a banana peel, you just have to look at the rugby league Test (defeat of the Kangaroos on Saturday) to see that," he said.
"There's always upsets, that's what sport's all about but we've been diligent and done all we can to be successful."
Australia begin their campaign against Vanuatu and Nauru on Thursday, before games against American Samoa and Tonga on Friday.
The winner of both pools will play in a Saturday winner-takes-all duel for Olympic qualification, while the victor there will likely line up against New Zealand or Fiji in another final of sorts to close the tournament.
AUSTRALIA: Nick Malouf, Lachlan Anderson, Joe Pincus, Tom Cusack, Simon Kennewell, Maurice Longbottom, Josh Coward, Josh Turner, Lewis Holland (capt), Ben O'Donnell, Jack Maddocks, Henry Hutchison, Jesse Parahi (injury reserve).
Australian Associated Press
