Defending champions Police, 2011 winners Wardens and the Aussie Thunderbolts are the teams to beat after day one of the Bayleys Fiji Coral Coast Sevens.
Two rounds were played on TFL Thursday in the searing heat at Lawaqa Park.
Police, captained by Livai Ikanakoda, beat Germany 21-7 before edging Westfield Dragons 17-14 and will face Shangri-La Daveta, the team they beat in last year's final, in their final Pool A match tomorrow.
A young Wardens team conceded only one try as they trounced Red Rock 29-0 and Shipping Services Suva Stallions 31-5 in Pool D while the Aussie Thunderbolts, also a development side, were too good for Uluinakau 19-12 and Uprising Beach Resort 26-5 in Pool B.
Former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri was impressed with both Wardens and his countrymen.
"The Thunderbolts will be up there over the next couple of days although you never know," he said. "The young guys are wanting to impress so they will be having a massive experience here in Fiji.
"Marmin Barba, a league convert, is one of them and it will be interesting to see how he goes tomorrow and on finals day."
Tuqiri said the experience at the tournament in front of a raucous local crowd was invaluable.
"It is a great testing ground for guys to see if they are any good as it's a test of character, aerobic ability, physicality and everything else," he continued. "The atmosphere supporting some of the local teams is scary."
Coastal Ratu Filise, from Tuqiri's home village of Namatakula, and Hideaway Hurricanes featuring Nemani Nagusa, played the match of the day in Pool C with Hideaway triumphing 12-10.
With Tabadamu and Filise earlier battling out a 12-12 draw that group is wide open.
"It's a great standard which got better as the day progressed and I'm loving being here," said Tuqiri.
Germany, who has travelled the furthest as part of their preparation for qualification tournaments in Hong Kong and Monaco later in 2016, found the going tough.
"Playing against opponents like this you don't have time to switch off and we did that a couple of times today and teams made us pay," said coach Chad Shepherd.
Shepherd said the tournament was about experience.
"We have given a few young guys a chance as we left three or four guys at home so the composition for Hong Kong is up for grabs," he continued. "Fiji has been great with the hospitality and the level of rugby fantastic although the hot weather is a shock to the system!
"We're really looking forward to tomorrow."
An estimated 2000 people enjoyed TFL Thursday and large crowds are expected over the next two days.
The women's Crest Na Iri Trophy starts tomorrow.
RESULTS FROM TFL THURSDAY at the BAYLEYS FIJI CORAL COAST SEVENS
Pool A
Westfield Dragons 21 Shangri-La Daveta 5
Police 21 Germany 7
Police 17 Westfield Dragons 14
Shangri-La Daveta 14 Germany 7
Pool B
Uluinakau 12 Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort 7
Aussie Thunderbolts 26 Uprising Beach Resort 5
Aussie Thunderbolts 19 Uluinakau 12
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort 21 Uprising Beach Resort 7
Pool C
Yamacia 7 Hideaway Hurricanes 5
Tabadamu 12 Coastal Ratu Filise 12
Tabadamu 17 Yamacia 5
Hideaway Hurricanes 12 Coastal Ratu Filise 10
Pool D
Wardens 29 Red Rock 0
BLK First Landing 24 Shipping Service Suva Stallions 15
Wardens 31 Shipping Service Suva Stallions 5
BLK First Landing 15 Red Rock 5