RUGBY UNION: The Australian men's rugby sevens team has landed in Mackay, and is preparing to square off against Japan in an international series this week as part of the side's preparation for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The two day tournament will also prepare the Australian side for the 2017/18 HSBC Sevens World Series and the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco in 2018.

Second year player Charlie Taylor said his team mates were excited to have arrived in Mackay and hoped their visit would help build interest in the sport throughout regional Queensland.

"It's really important to keep the game growing,” he said.

"We want to keep building numbers in both players and fans, and hopefully do them proud by winning gold at the Commonwealth Games.”

According to Taylor, winning first place in green and gold is a childhood dream of his and he hopes to see his current team take out the title like the women's team in the recent Rio Olympics.

"It would be unreal, the Australian men's team hasn't won gold in a long time,” he said.

"So to be part of that would be a dream come true, that's our main aim from here out.

"We watched the girls do it and they were just over the moon from the experience so hopefully we can do it next.”

Rugby Sevens coming to Mackay: Rugby Sevens are coming to Mackay.

Australian head coach Andy Friend said he was confident in this year's roster, made up of both experienced and new players, and where the team stood in the current competition.

"We have about three months until we kick off for the world series and while we're actually missing about 30% of our squad to injuries we're a long way out of competition,” he said.

"We're confident in our depth, we've got some players who haven't been on the squad before and it's an oppurtunity to give those guys a run too.

"Everything we do here is obviously a build up the Commonwealth Games and our other big tournaments for the world series and world cup.”

Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert welcomed the two teams to Mackay, and said she was pleased to see the region benefiting directly from the Commonwealth Games.

"The International Series in Mackay has ensured the excitement and atmosphere of the Games reaches regional Queensland,” she said.

"The visit by both teams is providing an economic and tourism boost for the region, with thousands expect to witness the rugby sevens action on Thursday and Friday.