Forbes in action during a pre-Rugby World Cup Sevens training session in Auckland © Getty Images

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New Zealand 7s captain DJ Forbes has gamely put his best foot forward in a bid to prevent the game's struggling powerhouse tripping up at major tournaments.

Forbes played the Wellington leg of the IRB world series with a fractured foot and calf strain and although he is still not quite quite in mint condition, one of coach Gordon Tietjen's few remaining stalwarts boarded the plane for the Sevens World Cup in Dubai today.

"I guess no one ever plays at 100 per cent," said Forbes, who reluctantly missed New Zealand's alarming quarterfinal exit at the last IRB circuit stop in San Diego two weeks ago. Forbes joined a growing injury list after his home tournament, which he practically completed on one leg.

"At a few stages the foot went numb, I was running on a flat foot and couldn't feel it for half of the semifinal and the last seven minutes of the final," he said. "One leg was enough but it's great to be be back to almost full fitness."

Fortunately Forbes survived a typically intense Tietjens' training camp this week, as did playmaker Tomasi Cama -- another old hand to miss San Diego -- though his right knee was heavily strapped. Victor Vito, the only Super 14 player at Tietjens' disposal, also sported an ice pack on his left calf but mercifully he too was able to depart with a team seeking to arrest a four-tournament losing streak.

New Zealand's defence of their world series crown has started in subdued fashion with the team losing finals in South Africa and Wellington. They only made the semi-finals in the series opener in Dubai while San Diego earlier this month proved the low point when they were diverted to the plate competition after losing to Kenya in pool play and then South Africa in the quarters.

Given that record Tietjens and Forbes preached cautious optimism as the team headed for the United Arab Emirates. "Experience always plays a factor and I'm lucky DJ and Tomasi have passed fitness tests and trained very well. If we can play to our potential we can go pretty well."

Tietjens, who lost eight of the squad that won last year's world series due to promotion or injury, said Vito's arrival was another significant boost as the side attempt to win the World Cup -- which is separate to the world series -- for the first time since 2001 in Argentina.

"It's great he put his name forward. It's a thank-you to us and the team for what sevens has done for him," Tietjens said. Forbes was also glad Vito was available, though he challenged the loose forward not to rest of his laurels.

"Credit to Victor, he earned his accolades last year but we've put him back in his place -- to get that same respect he has to start again at the bottom and work his way back up."

New Zealand, fittingly, is in a similar situation as they seek the avenge their World Cup final loss to Fiji four years ago in Hong Kong. "We haven't won a tournament (this season) so we need to put in a good performance," Forbes said.

New Zealand open their campaign in pool A with a game against Italy on March 5. They also face the Arabian Gulf and Tonga in the preliminary stages. The final is held on March 7.

New Zealand squad: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Captain, Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Tim Nanai Williams (Counties Manukau), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Chad Tuoro (Counties Manukau), Tu Umaga Marshall (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington), Viliame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour).