WESTERN Samoa will not feel the absence of the players who took them to the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens title, according to manager Marina Schaafhausen.
Only two players survive from last year's squad who reached the semi-finals, with captain Lolani Koko switching to rugby league and several other players committed to May's World Cup in South Africa.
But Schaafhausen, team manager for the last six years, said their absence would not harm Samoa's chances.
'They are all fit and ready to go,' she said. 'There have to be changes some time.' Western Samoa are grouped with South Korea and Singapore in Pool D of the preliminary competition and are expected to face defending champions New Zealand in the semi-finals.
Samoa defeated the Kiwis in the 1993 semi-finals on the way to beating Fiji 14-12 in the final.
Veli Patu and the heavily-tattooed Alefaio Vaisuai are the only players who remain from last year.