The hosts will have to get through a star-studded pool in the Australian university sevens series, with Bond University, the University of Sydney, the University of New England and the University of Queensland standing in their way at home on Saturday.

Canberra are looking to bounce back from a fifth-placed finish in the opening leg of the series and their final pool game looms as their toughest test yet.

Queensland have a target on their heads having won every gold medal on offer since the series' inception, and Canberra's United States import Gustaitis is relishing the challenge.

"We haven’t actually played UQ yet, and I never got to play them last year at all," Gustaitis said.

"It’s exciting, you always want to have a go against the top team so I think that will instil confidence in us, just knowing we’re the underdog but we can take that into the match and hopefully perform.

"We had a little bit of a slow start [at the opening leg] and then on day two we ripped in. We were able to maintain possession of the ball and actually get our game plan underway and we saw success in that.

"We’re just going to take day two into this series, hopefully we can start strong and build on that."

Gustaitis says the comfort of waking up in their own beds on game day will give Canberra an edge on their rivals - but head coach Dave Grimmond won't be resting on his laurels.

"I reckon there’s more [pressure], it’s a bit easier, you can sleep in your own bed but at the end of the day you’ve still got to perform," Grimmond said.

"UQ haven’t lost a series last year and round one this year. They’ll be tough. They play that all year up there in Brisbane, whereas obviously we have three months of it. They’re hard to beat but anyone is beatable, and hopefully we’ve got a squad that will reflect that."

It is a squad boosted by some extra grunt after Grimmond called on Wallaroos star and ACT Brumbies Super W player of the year Georgia O'Neill and Tayla Stanford, while Australian sevens skipper Sharni Williams will act as a mentor.

Throw in the speed of former Wallaroos squad member Kasey Dragisic, and the Canberra squad has a huge chance at causing a boilover in a tough pool.

"I brought in two extra forwards in this week. We’ll be stronger up frot, and it will make us a little bit more competitive which will be good," Grimmond said.

"We lacked a bit of physicality up front, particularly at breakdown work, so we’ve brought in two girls who can do that. I brought in a third one who brings a lot of speed which we were lacking as well."

UNIVERSITY SEVENS SERIES

Saturday: University of Canberra v Bond University at 9am, University of Canberra v University of Sydney at 11.20am, University of Canberra v University of New England at 1pm, University of Canberra v University of Queensland at 3pm. All games at Brumbies headquarters.

Sunday: Finals from 11am. Click or touch here for a full list of fixtures.

University of Canberra squad: Tania Afamasaga, Kasey Dragisic, Ngawai Eyles, Jane Garraway, Abby Gustaitis, Michaela Leonard, Paremo Marsh, Yasmin Meakes, Claudia Obst, Georgia O’Neill, Tayla Stanford, Sammie Wood.