'Cheat code' Maddison Levi breaks Charlotte Caslick's try-scoring record in Hong Kong

HONG KONG: Australia has its "cheat code" back.

Maddison Levi returned to her ridiculous try-scoring ways on Friday as the biggest star in the sport graced the first day of the new look Hong Kong Sevens at a sparkling Kai Tak Stadium.

The 22-year-old was back in action for the first time since fracturing her thumb at the Perth Sevens in January.

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Levi didn't miss a beat as she scorched Spain for a hat-trick of tries in a 54-12 demolition job in Pool C.

And then she helped herself to four more as the Aussies stormed into the quarter-finals with a 26-15 win over Canada.

Despite her injury layoff, Levi entered the tournament as easily the season's top scorer, with her 30 tries nine clear of Brazil's Thalia Costa.

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"Cheat code, iconic, whatever - but it's pretty handy to have someone who, when she gets the ball, her strike rate's at about 50 per cent whether she scores or not," Australia coach Tim Walsh said after the Spain win.

"So the more times you get the ball in hand, the better, but we do have to earn the right for that. We do have to make sure that we're doing some electric movement and creating a little bit of space for her to do her magic."

"I think her nickname should be 50-50," Walsh added after the Canada victory.

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"She gets the ball and there's a good chance she'll score. If I left her on there she might have scored eight, but I've got to keep her humble."

Levi said she entered the arena more nervous than she had been at any stage this season but any jitters quickly vanished.

"Having a little bit of a break, you kind of second guess your ability and doubt yourself and, yeah, just to find my feet and get into that game - I was pretty happy," she said.

"The tries come pretty easy with the team that I've got inside me."

Levi is shouldering more of a burden in Hong Kong with the absence of Charlotte Caslick, Bienne Terita, Demi Hayes and Heidi Dennis.

She had been a poor spectator when Australia crashed out in the semi-finals of the previous tournament in Vancouver.

"I think it's safe to say my boyfriend and my family don't like to watch with me because I yell at the TV, very frustrated," she joked.

"Frustrating knowing that you can't be on the field to help them or you can't be over there to give them words of wisdom."

With 188, Levi is now Australia's all-time leading try-scorer in women's sevens, passing Caslick.

"Charlotte has been my idol and she's been my mentor throughout all the years," Levi said.

"For her to be able to help me get to the level I'm able to play at is pretty awesome, but records don't really matter to me. It's just about getting the win. We know we haven't won a title in Hong Kong yet and I think we're ready to go all the way this time."

Australia's women continue their campaign against Japan at 12.53pm AEDT on Saturday while the men kick off their with a blockbuster clash against New Zealand at 8.30pm AEDT on Friday.

Sam Worthington travelled to the Hong Kong Sevens thanks to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cathay Pacific and The Langham