Australian Rugby Sevens coach Michael O’Connor has unveiled a newlook 13-man squad to compete as 'Aussie Thunder' at the Gold Coast and Noosa Sevens tournaments later this month.

Three Delhi Commonwealth Games silver medallists - Bernard Foley, Ed Jenkins and Shaun Foley - headline the youthful group, which will play its first tournament together on the Gold Coast on 13-14 November before heading to Noosa the following weekend.

The domestic tournaments will serve as key preparation ahead of Australia’s assault on the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series, which swings into action in Dubai on 3-4 December before stops in South Africa the following weekend and then New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Australia, England and Scotland.

Australia finished a commendable third overall last season to achieve their best World Series result since 2000/01 and four members of the Games squad - captain Pat McCutcheon, tour bolter Nick Phipps and wingers Lachie Turner and Luke Morahan – were rewarded with selection on the Qantas Wallabies Spring Tour.

O’Connor, who is rebuilding his stable of talent after losing the majority of his top flight squad to Super Rugby, says the timing of back-to-back Sevens tournaments in his home state is perfect.

“In the past we haven’t had the luxury of game time before we’ve launched into the HSBC Sevens World Series,” O’Connor said.

“There’s no substitute for time on the field under proper match conditions.

“In Australia top-level competitions have been pretty scarce but the Gold Coast and Noosa International Sevens tournaments will provide fantastic preparation for us.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for some of these blokes to find their feet in Sevens and with positions up for grabs for the World Series, you can be sure the boys won’t be holding back.”

At the Gold Coast event O'Connor's side will benefit from home advantage, but will also be on a collision course from the start with the side that beat them in the Commonwealth final, New Zealand, who also use the event as a World Series warm-up.

Aussie Thunder squad: Ed Jenkins, Bernard Foley, Shaun Foley, Tevita Kuridrani, Jono Lance, Hamish Angus, John Grant, Dan Yakopo, Michael Hodge, Kyle Godwin, Zack Holmes, Trent Dyer, Greg Jeloudev.