When Kazakhstan fullback Maxim Lifontov scored over a late penalty to give his team a surprise 30-27 victory over South Korea to seal second place in the HSBC Asian Five Nations last year, it helped raise the profile of rugby union in his country.
Now there are hopes the momentum will be maintained, if not enhanced, as Kazakhstan eye the coveted spot in the World Cup in New Zealand next year.
'Our performance last year has helped bring in some new fans and we want to capitalise on this with another good season,' head coach Valeriy Popov said.
'Any time a team reaches the world championship of any sport in Kazakhstan, the profile is raised much higher than before.
'Our aim is to win our first clash against the Arabian Gulf and take it from there. We will make our ambitions from match to match. I do not want to look too far ahead,' he said
While Hong Kong host Korea this weekend, Arabian Gulf travel to Almaty to face Kazakhstan, who lost only to Japan last season.