A total of 28 teams will participate in the first Rugby Sevens World Series event of 2018 ©World Rugby

Sydney will host 16 men's and 12 women's teams at the latest leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Hosts Australia beat the United States in the final of the first women's event in Dubai in December and will be keen to carry this momentum into the first matches of 2018 in front of a home crowd at Allianz Stadium.

Team captain Sharni Williams, who was in the side that won gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, said: "We had a great start to the Series in Dubai but then we headed into the holiday break.

"Now we are back on deck and we have to ensure we do the small things right to ensure more success.

"While it is good mentally to switch off when you can, such as Christmas, we now have to apply ourselves and we have worked on our conditioning and skills for Sydney.

"It is going to be wonderful to run out in front of our home fans on Australia Day but that said, despite all the support and flags that will be on display, it is just another tournament.

"That is where we must be mentally.

"We need to get it right."

Australia's women will kick-off their tournament against Spain tomorrow (January 26) whilst the men's team, who last won a leg on the circuit in Japan in 2012, will open their home campaign against the US.

The men's tournament in Sydney is likely to feature strong challenges from South Africa and New Zealand, while Olympic champions Fiji will also hope for a strong display.

Defending Series champions South Africa, known as the Blitzboks, will be looking to take revenge against the Kiwis who took the top prize at the most recent event in the South African city of Cape Town in December.

This result means 12-time overall Series champions New Zealand currently top the standings on 41 points, two ahead of South Africa who won the first event of the season in Dubai.

New Zealand will play their first match of the Sydney Series against Russia with South Africa taking on Papua New Guinea.

Fiji will be looking to lift their first trophy since their victory in Hong Kong in April 2017.

This weekend's tournament presents the chance for both the men's and women's teams to earn seeding points, which will be crucial for this summer's Rugby World Cup Sevens draw.

The Sydney Series begins tomorrow and ends on Sunday (January 28).