A word of warning to any current All Blacks and Super Rugby superstars eying a shot at Sevens glory on the Olympic stage. You'll have to get past Scott Curry first.

The Bay of Plenty Sevens star is fast becoming an integral cog in the All Blacks Sevens machine, as it contests a congested HSBC Word Series with one eye on 2016.

Scott Curry during All Blacks Sevens training at Blake Park. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

With four legs remaining, New Zealand sit five points behind leaders South Africa, with only the top four sides gaining automatic qualification to next year's main event in Rio de Janiero.

'There is a lot of talk about who is coming in from the All Blacks and Super Rugby,” says Scott, 'but they are going to have to come in and do the hard yards with us for a few weeks.

'It will be tough coming from 15s, but I'm sure there are a lot of guys that can make the transition. It will be a good challenge.”

the 26-year-olds stock has already skyrocketed this year after he was unexpectedly thrown the captain's armband following injuries to long-term skipper DJ Forbes, along with Gillies Kaka and Tim Mikkelson.

It's an opportunity he relished, as he guided a youthful side scattered with Sevens debutants to victory in Wellington before falling to Fiji in the Las Vegas final.

'I wasn't really expecting it to be honest,” he admits. 'I have captained the odd game here and there when Timmy [Tim Mikkelson] and DJ [DJ Forbes] have been given a rest, but to get a whole tournament was pretty cool.”

'The young boys really stood up considering we lost two of our main leaders and I was kind of thrust into that leadership role.”

Having the likes of Sherwin Stowers, Sam Dickson and tournament veteran Lote Raikabula to feed off also helped ease the nerves.

Speaking to SunLive at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens, Curry says the likes of Dylan Collier, Rieko Ioane and Beaudein Waaka will hand coach Sir Gordon Tietjens further selection headaches.

'Because having a20 guys fit and only being able to select 12 is a tough job,” says Scott.

'It's good for the team – it makes us grow as a team and puts pressure on everyone.”

This is a sentiment echoed by Sir Titch, who's happy with the last two tournament performances as he continues plotting ways to keep his side ahead of the ever-chasing, developing pack of rugby nations.

'Out of the possible 44 points, we secured 41 of those and with new players that we brought in forced onto us by injuries,” says the coach.

'Some of those players are back from injury and there is certainly a lot of pressure on positions, which has made it competitive, and that's the ultimate for my team moving forward.”

The NZ side head into Hong Kong as defending champions, having brushed aside England 26-7 in 2014.

And the event, heading into its 40th edition, is a place Sir Titch holds close to his heart having played for New Zealand there in 1983 and winning his first title as NZ Sevens coach in 1994.

'It still retains the prestige it had many years ago,” he says.

The All Blacks Sevens squad will be based in Mount Maunganui until Friday as they prepare for the next two legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong (March 27-29) and Tokyo (April 4-5).