Matthew Hood will start for Australia’s men’s sevens side while Jeral Skelton is set for his world series debut in Cape Town’s second round.

Skelton comes onto the bench for the injured Ed Jenkins following a first-round fifth place at Dubai’s series opener last weekend.

Hood and Skelton join last-start debutants Maurice Longbottom and Ben O’Donnell in a new-look team who have set their sights on Commonwealth Games and World Cup gold next season.

Australia will play New Zealand, Spain and the USA for a spot in the quarter-finals.

Losses in the final moments to England and Fiji cruelled their semi-final charge in Dubai, with coach Andy Friend hopeful a lesson was learned.

“We played some really good rugby last round, now the challenge is to step up our game and finish off the key moments in what will be a tough pool in Cape Town,” he said.

Following the South African jaunt, Australia’s next assignment will be at home in the Sydney over the Australia Day long weekend in January.

Australia: Matthew Hood, Simon Kennewell, Sam Myers, Lewis Holland (capt), James Stannard, John Porch, Tim Anstee, Boyd Killingworth, Jeral Skelton, Ben O’Donnell, Maurice Longbottom, Lachie Anderson.