The competition begins with Kazakhstan facing Colombia in a semi-final at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai tomorrow.

Scotland will then play the winner of that semi-final in a one-off match on next Friday (February 25) to decide the final World Cup berth.

The victor will join hosts New Zealand, Australia and Wales in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup.

If Scotland meet expectations, they will progress to a sixth World Cup while Kazakhstan have a chance to compete in their seventh and Colombia their first.

The Scots sit ninth in the world rankings - the highest in their history - and head into the competition with the best form and the most playing time.

They are currently on a three-game winning streak after beating Spain, Ireland, and Japan.

The 20-18 win over Ireland saw Scotland finish runners-up to Italy in the World Cup Europe Qualifier and reach this stage of the qualification process.

Fifteenth in the world, Kazakhstan, who qualified automatically following COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of the Asia Rugby Championship, have not played test rugby since a 1-1 series draw against China in 2019.

Colombia, world number 26, played a warm-up match against Spain A on February 10, but have not had a competitive run since beating Kenya 16-15 in August to qualify for this tournament.

Scotland possess a vast amount of experience with a squad totalling 629 caps - 337 in the pack and 292 in the backs.

They received a buye to the final of the last-chance qualifier as Samoa withdrew over COVID-19 travel restrictions.

There is some room for new blood in the Scotland team as Edinburgh University’s uncapped pair Eva Donaldson and Meryl Smith have been included in head coach Bryan Easson’s squad.

Led by captain Leidy Soto, Colombia’s 29-player squad includes Maria Isabel Arzuaga, the winger who scored all 16 points against Kenya.

Also in the squad are Rio 2016 Olympic Games trio Alejandra Betancur, Camila Lopera, and Isabel Romero.

Kazakhstan possesses an element neither Scotland or Colombia have - World Cup experience.

Veronika Stepanyuga, Nigora Nurmatova, Kundyzay Baktybayeva, Balzhan Koishybayeva and Natalya Kamendrovskaya and Lyudmila Sherer have all played at the full World Cup.

The delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup - which keeps that branding despite being played in 2022 - is scheduled between October 8 and November 12.

Hosts New Zealand are also the defending champions.