Last year Russia left a first ever imprint on the Dubai Sevens, their physical, forthright style and pacy backline play carrying them to the Shield title with a victory over Portugal in the final.
The sight of wing Vasily Artemyev, grimacing en route to his hat trick try in that final, will live long in the memory and the same man is back to spearhead their attack this year.
They followed the win up, too, going one better in South Africa by reaching the Bowl final with wins against Zimbabwe and far more experienced USA before losing out to Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales in the final.
Rugby in Russia has received a number of notable boosts in recent times and the current generation of players are riding on the crest of a wave.
"We've made enormous progress and on the back of what happened in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 and then at the start of 2010, we've benfited from what I've often called a 'perfect wave'," said the Russian Rugby Union's Chief Executive and Vice President, Howard Thomas.
"There is no doubt that the Olympic vote (in October 2009 the IOC Session voted Rugby Sevens into the Olympic Games for 2016) has had a significant impact on how Rugby has been accepted by government here. Schools take-up has already been noticeable in terms of interest.
"Then with qualifying for New Zealand (Rugby World Cup 2011) and being awarded the hosting rights for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, we're on a high and there are more clubs, schools and players now taking up the sport than even before, because government is behind it properly for the first time."
Henry Paul: Russia not afraid to attack
One former Sevens star now firmly in Russia's corner is Henry Paul. The former New Zealand Rugby League man switched codes and played both 15s and Sevens rugby union for England, but he has now taken up a job as Russia's backs and skills coach.
"One thing I like about the way Russians play Rugby is that they're not afraid to attack, maybe to their detriment at times," Paul told Total Rugby.
Paul's primary objective is to help the Russians prepare for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next year, but he does admit to hankering after the Sevens game, in which he excelled for England, winning in Hong Kong.
"The 2013 Sevens World Cup will be at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, I'd definitely love to be part of that," he said.
"Right now the focus is on the 15s World Cup, but Sevens is a really exciting, growing sport in Russia. We have the 2013 World Cup coming, we want the team to be on the World Series doing well and prove that we can play.
"They're a very proud nation, they take their sport very seriously. Even without looking as far as the Olympics, anything they can do to improve their rugby and the standard of their players across the baord, they are going to look at very seriously."
Russia compete in Pool C in Dubai against Australia, South Africa and Scotland.
