The Western Force will welcome back Matt Giteau for their clash with the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
Watch Force v Chiefs, Saturday May 3, live on Sky Sports 2 from 10.30am
The Western Force will welcome back Matt Giteau for their clash with the Chiefs at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
Giteau will return to the side after recovering from the concussion he suffered against the Waratahs nearly three weeks ago.
Knee injuries to Scott Staniforth and Tamaiti Horua, a shoulder problem for Tom Hockings, an ankle problem for Haig Sare and a hamstring injury for Sam Wykes have taken them all out of contention.
Instead coach John Mitchell has brought James O'Connor, James Stannard, Matt Hodgson, David Pusey, Nick Cummins, Kieran Longbottom and Dane Haylett-Petty into the squad.
Longbottom is the only born and bred West Australian in the Force squad and will be on the bench for the first time, with Pusey earning his first start of the season.
Disappointed
Mitchell said: "There's no denying the fact that I was disappointed with the leadership at nine, 10 and 12 against the Reds.
"It's time to start looking at people that are going to deliver on a more consistent basis and that will play the style of football that will help us succeed at this level.
"We've been very disappointed in the efforts of AJ Whalley in his few performances of late and we think the work rate hasn't been acceptable for the level we want to get to.
"It's now time to give Kieran an opportunity and for AJ to shift and improve his performance going forward."
Stannard replaces Chris O'Young at half-back and Hodgson starts at number eight ahead of Richard Brown.
Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 James Stannard; 1 Pek Cowan, 2 Tai McIsaac, 3 Troy Takiari, 4 David Pusey, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 6 Scott Fava, 7 David Pocock, 8 Matt Hodgson.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Scott Daruda, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty.
