EITHER the Australian seven-a side-rugby team has no hope at next year's Olympic Games or James Stannard is a poor judge of rugby talent.

In July last year, the Karalee-raised Stannard, while preparing to represent Australia at his second Commonwealth Games, said: "If I'm in the Olympic squad, we're in deep trouble."

At that time the Rio Olympics, where rugby sevens will be included for the first time, seemed a long way away to the 31-year-old.

Now however, after being granted a full-time sevens contract to see out the 2015 season, August next year does not seem unattainable. The other possibility is Stannard is just a modest bloke from Ipswich who didn't want to big-note himself.

Stannard is in Wellington, New Zealand preparing for the third round of the Sevens World Series.

Australia currently sits fourth on the rankings. The top-four teams at the end of the season will automatically qualify for the Rio Sevens.

That is Stannard's main goal and if he can achieve it, he sees no reason why he can't play at the world's greatest sporting showpiece.

"It really depends on the coaching staff and how well we go," said, he will be 33 when the Olympics roll around.

"The first job is qualifying.

"If we do well and qualify there is no reason the majority of the squad can't go to the Olympics."

Stannard is one of only three players in the 20-man squad aged 25 or over.

As halfback he provides the experience the young team needs, so a good year and automatic qualification for Australia could make him near indispensable.

Not that Stannard is getting ahead of himself.

"My job as halfback is the set piece, decision making and directing the team around as best I can," the former St Edmund's College student, Western Force and ACT Brumbies halfback said.

"I think I'm playing pretty good football at the moment.

"My body is in good nick, touch wood.

"I'm concentrating on getting through this year and if I'm firing at the end of the year I'll definitely put my hand up for the Olympics.

"But it's up to the coaching staff."

Australia finished sixth on last year's word tour.

If they miss out on the top four this year they will have to win an Oceania qualifying event.

It could pit them against powerhouses such as New Zealand and Fiji, if those teams haven't already qualified from the top four of the World Series.

Stannard is confident that Australia, now in its second year of centralised, full-time sevens contracts, is on track.

The squad is based at Narrabeen, on Sydney's northern beaches, which is a long way from Stannard's home base of Perth.

"Centralising it has played a big part in our improvement," he said.

"We're learning from each other and the way we play.