As all 16 coaches declare their final squads of 12 for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens, Samoa and New Zealand are both preparing for one final surge for the overall IRB Sevens World Series title.

The islanders currently lead the Series by seven points from New Zealand with only the Murrayfield climax still to be played.

- FULL SQUAD DETAILS >>

For hosts Scotland the aim is altogether simpler: improve on their below-par performance so far this season and try to make the most of a talented group of players, who will have benefited greatly from one more week of Sevens conditioning.

Ally Hogg offers experience, Ben Cairns comes in for injured captain Scott Forrest with plenty to prove while John Houston, Greg Laidlaw, Roddy Grant, Andrew Turnbull and Mark Robertson are all proven performers. Colin Shaw and Mike Adamson are the Sevens mainstays.

"It's been difficult and it's been disappointing and from our point of view there's no better place to revive it (the season) than at our home tournament," said coach Stephen Gemmell.

"It's small margins and I think Australia winning the (London) tournament at the weekend should give a lot of countries hope. It wasn't one of the so-called big hitters, it was Australia who have worked hard at their game, worked hard for each other and to give credit to them they played outstanding rugby.

"From our point of view there's been an emphasis on getting the players into Sevens defence, which is different from 15s and when you've brought a lot of players in, as we did, that's different, so the focus has been on defending better and on speed of reactions to the bouncing ball."

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES?>>

How the World Series stands

1st - Samoa - 140 points - Samoa are the most experienced team with 313 tournaments played between their 12 players. They also have three men up for IRB Sevens Player of the Year in Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Lolo Lui and Mikaele Pesamino, the season's leading try-scorer. Will they handle the pressure, and the cold weather in Edinburgh, and close out a first World Series title?

2nd - New Zealand - 133 - Like Samoa, unchanged from Twickenham last weekend, where they won the Plate, New Zealand are still well in the race for their ninth World Series title. Kurt Baker has hit a rich vein of form, 11 tries in London taking his season tally to 31. Zar Lawrence is two short of 100 career tries.

3rd= Fiji - 102 - Fiji are the only side to give IRB Sevens debuts in Murrayfield this weekend, to Ifereimi Boladau and Jack Prasad. They are also the least experienced team with only 52 tournaments played amongst their 12.

3rd= Australia - 102 - Champions in London, their first Cup final and title since 2002, Australia's relative inexperience proves how well and quickly the team has gelled under coach Michael O'Connor. 54 tournaments played between them, the squad is the second most inexperienced at Murrayfield, but expect more big performances from Henry Vanderglas, Brackin Karauria-Henry and captain James Stannard as they look to round off the season on a high. Clinton Sills' fitness is a doubt.

5th - England - 80 - Disappointed by their performance on home soil at the weekend, England will be hoping for a vast improvement to finish on a high. Nick Royle comes in for Christian Wade, who leaves to compete at the IRB Junior World Championship, and hulking wing Uche Oduoza replaces Churchill Cup-bound Tom Varndell.

6th - South Africa - 74 - The reigning World Series champions with relinquish their one-year hold on the title this weekend but finally hit some decent form at Twickenham to make their first Cup final of the season. Fabian Juries was magical on his return from 15s, Mzwandile Stick gave them experience and control alongside the likes of Ryno Benjamin - 28 tries this season - and new boy Cecil Afrika.

7th - Argentina - 54 - Achieved in London what New Zealand have failed to do since the Dubai Cup final in beating Samoa and themselves reached the Cup semis. Nicolas Bruzzone was back with his darting runs and they also boast Sevens' all time leading try-scorer in captain Santiago Gomez-Cora.

8th - Kenya - 52 - The second most experienced team with 291 Sevens caps between them, the Kenyans fell from grace in London, unlucky perhaps to draw 19-19 with New Zealand in their pool and end up winning only the Shield. Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange are the third and fourth highest scorers this season but they need to refind the old magic if they're to finish on a high.

9th - USA - 32 - Still enjoying their best ever season but the Eagles are rebuilding again having lost a few players to the 15-a-side team set to play in the Churchill Cup. Tai Enosa is one for the future, while captain Kevin Swiryn and Paul Emerick will both be keen to impress in possibly their final tournaments before concentrating on 15s.

10th - Wales - 30 - Cup quarter finalists in London, Wales suffered from losing flyer Alex Cuthbert and perhaps also from the likes of Lee Beech being short on Sevens fitness. Now with another week of conditioning under their belts, though, Paul John's men could prove a sterner test at Murrayfield, where they face the hosts Scotland in a key clash on day one.

11th - Canada - 15 - Three times the Cannucks have taken World Series points this season out of their four tournaments played and Morgan Williams seems to have had a positive effect on the team. Captain Phil Mack is back at his best, Sean Duke gives them real pace and Dave Moonlight also returns as their most experienced campaigner with 36 tournaments and leading try scorer with 105.

The other four sides, hosts Scotland, Portugal, Russia and Italy are unranked as they have no Series points so far this season.

The powerful Russians were no mugs in London, giving the hosts an early scare. They left with no wins but were competitive throughout and line up with the same squad of players.

Italy are also unchanged, while Portugal call up youngster Veltioven Tavares in the place of Sebastiao da Cunha.

IRB Sevens Player of the Year

The presentation will also be made on Sunday for IRB Sevens Player of the Year, in association with Emirates Airline. Which of these four shortlisted players do you think will land the prize?...

Have your say! >>