Force out to sweep South African grounds
The Western Force hope to make a clean sweep at all South African Super rugby grounds tomorrow.
The Sharks' Kings Park Stadium in Durban is the only one where the side has not won in its five-year history.
The task will not be easy. The Sharks are still buoyed by beating the Stormers and want to end the season with seven wins from eight games.
Force head coach John Mitchell said the Sharks would be up for it but added that it was equally important for his side to finish on a high after a disappointing season marred by an early injury crisis.
"It will be a real physical contest," he said. "The Sharks try and meet you very close but we will attempt to outsmart them and look to use our ball better.
"We've gone with a forward pack that has demonstrated in the past that it is very aggressive in both attack and defence and a back line that has got a lot attacking threats in it. The mix suits the way we want to play."
Mitchell will be trying to outsmart good mate and Sharks coach John Plumtree but has spent more time preparing his side than worrying about the opponent's style.
"His thinking has not gone into this selection at all," Mitchell said of Plumtree. "I wanted to give everyone a go, keep everyone alive on the trip.
"Everyone has been given that opportunity but I've gone back to the mix that I think has the attributes to win.
"It's important we end our season with the right performance."
Retiring scrum half Chris O'Young is out and David Hill, who has to pass a late fitness test, will be playing his last game for the club. But there is no room for sentiment just yet.
"We want to win to thank guys that have contributed in the jersey this year," Mitchell said.
"But we have to put aside individual milestones and everything else like that.
"The season doesn't finish until after the final whistle."
Hill has aggravated an old ankle injury and if he is not cleared to play then Mark Bartholomeusz will take his spot.
Young winger Dane Haylett-Petty has flown over to replace the injured Scott Staniforth and will go on to the bench if Bartholomeusz is elevated.
WESTERN FORCE
Pek Cowan, Ben Whittaker, Tim Fairbrother, Ben McCalman, Nathan Sharpe, Matt Hodgson, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, David Hill, Nick Cummins, Ryan Cross, Mitch Inman, Cameron Shepherd, James O'Connor. Reserves: Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Tom Hockings, Sam Wykes, Justin Turner, Sam Harris, Mark Bartholomeusz
