Video: Hong Kong Sevens preview as Kiwis present a major obstacle for England

The All Blacks have won 36 successive games in the IRB World Series, including the last six events - two in 2007 and all four this term - and are intent on claiming a first Hong Kong win since 2001 to extend their record run.

• VIDEO: See all the build-up to the Sevens

England have placed their faith in youth, with coach Ben Ryan selecting five members of the Grand Slam-winning under-20s team in his 12-man squad.

Saracens' Noah Cato, Northampton's John Brake, Worcester's Matthew Cox, London Irish's Jonathan Fisher and Leicester's Ben Youngs will be among those assigned the task of stopping the rampaging Kiwis, but Ryan's side will be boosted by the considerable experience of Ben Gollings and captain Andy Vilk.

The 27-year-old Gollings is the leading points scorer in sevens history, with 1,702 points - 392 ahead of Fijian legend Waisale Serevi - and will be at the forefront of England's campaign as they seek to bounce back from an indifferent season.

Cato could provide the spark to go with Gollings' sevens nous. The 19-year-old crossed for six tries in five matches in the under-20s Six Nations success, while Cox, Fisher and Youngs will be making their sevens debuts. England, who were eliminated from the last round in San Diego by Kenya, open against Canada before further Pool B matches against Sri Lanka and defending champions Samoa.

Ryan expects a difficult first match but predicts the group will come down to the contest with Samoa.

"We had a wake up call against Canada in Dubai where they got a draw against us," said Ryan. "We've played them subsequently and beat them but they're a tricky side, so the first thing for us is to get a win against them.

"We need to get some points against Sri Lanka - we've averaged 66 points the two times we've played them - and it will hopefully come down to winner takes all against Samoa.

"But they're a talented side and any team defending their trophy is not going to give in easily."

Wales, the 2007 Plate winners, line up in Pool D alongside sevens specialists Fiji, Zimbabwe and Korea, while Scotland face Kenya, Portugal and China in Pool E.

New Zealand, meanwhile, are expected to stroll into the Cup quarter-finals as they play Chinese Taipei, USA and Tunisia in Pool A.

All Blacks captain DJ Forbes could not explain the drought in Hong Kong but is intent on ending the seven-year wait for success.

"There's a lot more riding on it in Hong Kong so all the teams bring out their big guns," Forbes said.

"But our team have been together for a little while now and we've got that core of players who can perform in those pressure games."

New Zealand, who are 32 points clear of nearest challengers South Africa in the overall standings, could all-but wrap up a second successive IRB World Sevens series title with victory as 30 points are on offer for the winners of the world's most prestigious sevens event.

"People are thinking that the series is done, but I don't think we can leave anything to chance," added Forbes. "As far as we're concerned, we need to win as many as possible.

"We'll take confidence out of our past results but we can't rest on our past performances. They're the past, and you're only as good as your last game in sevens."

South Africa captain Neil Powell admits the All Blacks are the team to beat.

"There are no weaknesses in the New Zealand side," he said. "They're a special team and they've got some special players."