Since 2006, one of the greatest players will not be involved in the Heineken Hottest 7s in the World.
Instead Waisale Serevi will coach a team at the inaugural Suva 7s in Fiji.
Former Fiji 7s captain-coach Serevi was named last week as runner up to All Black Richie McCaw as Oceania Rugby Player of the Decade.
But after being sacked by his home country in 2009, "The Wizard" now heads Papua New Guinea's sevens program.
Under Serevi, minnows PNG have been the surprise packet of this season's IRB 7s world series.
And PNG has elected to play alongside Samoa, Tonga, Hong Kong, the USA and a side from Super 15 franchise Western Force at the Suva 7s.
The tournament looms as the largest in Fiji.
It features 200 sides in divisions from juniors to masters and climaxes the same weekend as the Hottest 7s.
But NTRU general manager Tim Heath said he didn't see it as a threat to the Hottest 7s.
"I doubt it," Heath said.
"I'm not concerned. We are a lot more established."
Maestro Serevi twice held the sevens world cup aloft.
And his genius transferred to the Darwin event with wins in a hat-trick of Heineken Hottest 7s titles.
He first guided the Fiji Barbarians to the 2006 crown before clinching back-to-back titles with the South Sea Drifters in 2007 and 2008.
Serevi's perfect record was spoiled last year by the Samoan Barbarians who beat the Drifters with a last-minute try in the final.
Heath said New Guinea was invited to attend the Hottest 7s.
And Samoa was also asked back to defend its title.
"Samoa would be here if they could," Heath said.
"The tsunami was the main reason they're not here.
"Like New Guinea, they are fully funded to play in the Suva Sevens, where as they would have had to pay to come to play in Darwin."
He said the Drifters would compete in 2010.
They were also in form having won the Gold Coast Sevens in November without Serevi.
"They will still be bringing a very strong side," Heath said.
Source: ntnews.com.au