No team have competed in every Cup final in a single season since the multi-leg World Rugby Sevens Series began in 1999, but South Africa are eyeing that piece of history, together their first overall championship since 2009.

The Blitzboks have captured four legs (Dubai, Wellington, Sydney, Las Vegas) and were losing finalists to England in both Cape Town and Vancouver.

They have arrived in Hong Kong for this weekend's tournament in confident mood and are looking to extend their lead atop the standings with further wins in the Asia swing. The 10-stop series will move to Singapore next week.

They have 126 points, 23 clear of second-placed England. A win is worth 22 points, the runners-up get 19, and the third, 17.

After Singapore, the series goes to Paris before wrapping up in London next month.

A below-par outing at last year's Rio Olympics, where they missed out on the showpiece final and had to settle for bronze, has been their key motivation for this season's fine run, captain Philip Snyman told The Straits Times in a phone interview from Hong Kong yesterday.

The 30-year-old, who has finished runners-up with South Africa for the past four campaigns, said: "The players came together in October and we told ourselves there can be no excuses for this season. We know there's enough talent in the squad to be successful but we had to show it on the field."

And it has been some statement of intent. South Africa have won 33 of their 36 matches this term, drawing a pool game 12-12 against England in Vancouver, and losing the two Cup finals.

South Africa coach Neil Powell has led the team since 2013 and is delighted to see his charges unleash their full potential.

He said: "I'm never completely satisfied though. There's never been a perfect sevens game from us but we strive for it. If we concede zero tries in a tournament, then maybe I'll say our defence is perfect. We can always improve."

It is a terrifying thought for their opponents. South Africa have made the most tackles (737), scored the most tries (148 and tied with Fiji) and received the fewest yellow cards (two) this season.