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Never in sevens rugby guru Gordon Tietjens' glittering coaching career has his New Zealand team been so injury-ravaged before a major tournament.
Needless to say, victory in this weekend's World Cup in Dubai would rate as one of his more satisfying achievements on an extensive CV.
Not only did he lose five training squad members to injury - now his star recruit Victor Vito is battling a calf muscle problem.
"We've never been hit so badly with injuries," Tietjens lamented, as he eyed one of the more evenly-contested world tournaments under his watch.
Vito was summoned from the Hurricanes as Tietjens' only Super 14 player, in the hope he would cause as much carnage as he did last year in New Zealand's world series win.
Scans after the squad's first training session in Dubai revealed a minor calf tear, moving Tietjens to rate the powerhouse a 50:50 proposition.
Tietjens' spirits were lifted when Vito operated at about 80 per cent in training matches on Tuesday night against Australia and the United States, and the coach hoped he could also play a part against Japan and Uruguay late today.
"I've got a gut feeling he will kick through and I hope I'm right," said Tietjens.
"He's our only Super 14 player and we all saw what he did last year."
Vito would be given until as late as possible before the tournament opener against Italy tomorrow to prove his fitness. New Zealand have just one match on day one, thereby giving him more recovery time.
Wellington's Julian Savea joined the squad in Dubai as cover.
There was better news for the coach with key players DJ Forbes and Tomasi Cama recovering from recent injuries and training strongly in the Dubai heat this week. The weather was the same as usual: sunny and warm, maximum 30-31C.
"They're both fine, in fact they've trained the house down."
Tietjens needs Vito, Forbes and Cama fit and firing, with his side's imposing aura dulling somewhat with no wins from four International Rugby Board tournaments in 2008-09.
There was an agonising defeat to England, thanks to a late converted try, in the Wellington final last month, then New Zealand were bundled out 19-7 by South Africa in the quarter-finals in San Diego.
They currently sit third on the world series ladder, eight points behind England and South Africa.
Those two sides, along with Fiji and San Diego winners Argentina, all pose a significant threat once New Zealand's pool opponents Italy, Arabian Gulf and Tonga are negotiated.
"It's very hard to label a favourite. These countries are putting a lot more emphasis on sevens now, and Fiji have brought a lot of players back from their various clubs," Tietjens said.
Despite the pre-tournament drama, Tietjens was impressed with his team's early efforts in Dubai. He excused them the San Diego quarter-final exit, with Forbes, Cama and Edwin Cocker (broken leg) all ruled out.
New Zealand comfortably dispatched Australia and the US in training matches on Tuesday night.
"I saw enough glimpses there to see they've come together very well. They're a lot fitter than they were.
"They expressed themselves and played pretty well against Australia."
- NZPA
