The Kiwis currently lead the standings with 92 points, 12 more than the United States in second place.

Third-ranked Canada sit just two points behind the US with 78, while Australia, who occupy fourth spot, have 74.

Hosts France sit in fifth position with 60 points, giving them a 13-point advantage over England in sixth place.

As the principal route to qualification for next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, the top four teams in this year’s World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series will earn their spots.

New Zealand were first to qualify after triumphing in Langford in Canada last month and will be joined by the US, who simply have to take to the field of play tomorrow to confirm their place, and two other teams. 

"We had two goals heading into this Series and they were qualifying for Tokyo and also winning that World Series title and bringing it back home to New Zealand," captain Sarah Hirini said.

"We want to finish the weekend on a high, so taking that tournament [title] would be an extra bonus – the girls have been preparing well to hopefully go and do that this weekend."

New Zealand will face England, Russia and invitational side Scotland in Pool A on day one of competition at Stade Aguiléra.

Scotland will be participating in their first-ever World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series tournament and will be looking to build on their performance at the World Series Qualifier tournament in Hong Kong earlier this year, when they missed out to Brazil in earning core team status on next year’s circuit.

"Our core squad has probably been together for the past three or four years so we’ve been building quite nicely and we’re really excited to see how this weekend goes," captain Helen Nelson said.

Currently ranked second in the standings, the US - winners of the bronze medal in Langford - are looking forward to the prospect of Olympic qualification

"It is a great feeling - we have worked really hard this season and to accomplish the top-four spot for the Olympic qualification is a big deal for us," captain Lauren Doyle said.

"It’s a real credit to our programme and how far we really have come and how hard we have been working."

The US are set to face China, Fiji and France in Pool C.

France will be looking for the support a home crowd with Olympic qualification still on the horizon and after missing out on the bronze medal to the US in Langford. 

"The qualification is necessarily in our mind and we know that it is not done yet," captain Fanny Horta said.

"The pressure is still there, but I think we have to put it in a positive way and have the desire to show our identity, to have fun on the field, to go to the end of our project, of who we are.

"It's always an event to play at home, so much so that it serves us in the positive."

Pool B, meanwhile, will see Australia take on Canada, Ireland and Spain.