The team ran out the winner 29-27 over Tasman in a thrilling finish last year.
Jury named his side to defend the crown at team training yesterday.
The side had "a really good mix of speed" as well as a "really good skill set and physicality", he said.
"The main goal for us is to qualify for the nationals, so if we get a top-five placing I am going to be happy."
Hot competition would leave players who missed out disappointed, but it was a reflection of the strong pool of talent Jury had to choose from, he said.
"The fact that that is happening is very encouraging."
That selection pool lined up as evenly matched sides, the Otago Sassenachs Gold and the Otago Sassenachs Blue, in the inaugural North Otago Referees Sevens tournament in Oamaru last weekend. That meant some of the selected players did not play together. Despite that, Jury was confident the team had strong combinations.
"We have been training together for the last eight weeks and the boys know each other really well . . .
"I think there will be a lot od really good anticipation off the ball because of how well the boys know each other and knowing the strengths and weaknesses that each player has, so I don’t think it’s going to be a massive issue."
Jury expects strong competition from all the teams Otago will face this weekend.
"A lot of the other unions have brought in some really good player resources into their teams. So Southland are going to be a lot stronger than what they were," he said.
"North Otago showed signs [of improvment] and they only came together last Thursday prior to their tournament, so they’ve got another week under their belt. Mid Canterbury are obviously excellent. South Canterbury have had limited training but they have some good ball carriers and good players on the edges, and Canterbury are always going to be tough.
"So if we can make the top five and qualify for nationals I think we will have done a pretty good job."
Co-coaches Mike Moeahu and David Latta have also named the Otago women’s sevens team this week. The women finished second in their Southern Regional Sevens tournament last year and have similar aspirations to their male counterparts as they prepare for this year’s edition.
"It’s quite a challenging event, the regionals . . . we’re just looking forward to it," Moeahu said.
"Obviously the aim is to qualify for the nationals and everything else will be the bonus."
- Jonny Turner
Otago sevens teams
Men: Ben Tuiomanufili, Ben Miller, Brodie Hume, Sean Conner (c), Henry Scott, Paul Tupa,i Mackenzie Haugh, Liam Ward, Jerome Harimate, Leroy Van Dam, Gavin Stark, Matt Jones.
Women: Greer Muir (c), Sonia Panapa. Julia Gorinski, Georgia Mason, Biddy Sefton, Mikayla Latta, Michaela Baker, Sam Hollows, Soraya Umaga-Jensen, Katie Brock, Kilistina Moata’ane, Renaye Flockton.