Forgotten forward Henderson faces old mates
With all the hype surrounding the return to Perth of former Western Force golden boy Matt Giteau, another player preparing to battle former teammates has slipped quietly under the radar.
But that's just how Nic Henderson likes it - the anonymity of the front row rather than the limelight of the back line.
The Force's 28-year-old loosehead will come face to face with his old Brumbies mates when he lines up in the front row in Friday's Super 14 season opener.
And he will be getting very up close and personal with one of his best mates, Brumbies tighthead Guy Shepherdson.
The pair made their debut together for the Brumbies in the ACT side's 2004 Super 12 championship-winning season, the same year that Henderson won the first of his three Test caps. He went on to make 70 appearances for the Brumbies.
"Shep and I have actually been good mates for eight years but I've never played against him in a game so I'm looking forward to being on the opposite side for the first time," Henderson said.
"We've scrummaged against each other for years in training and you get to know each other's tricks, but I'm looking forward to the challenge because every year you work on something to improve on something.
"There's no doubt he'll be throwing a few different things at me.
"There's no animosity, but hopefully I'll be the one coming off the field with the smile on my face.
"I don't mind others being in the spotlight, I quite like it like that."
Henderson was behind Shepherdson, Ben Alexander and Salesi Ma'afu for much of last year and risked a similar situation, fighting for a starting spot with Matt Dunning, Tim Fairbrother, Pek Cowan and Kieran Longbottom by moving west.
Henderson knows selection will be based on performance.
"There's no such thing as an easy ride in our squad and you can't take anything for granted, especially in the front row," he said.
He said the side had taken confidence from the trial win against the Reds last Friday night.
Going to the game? Pick up your complimentary copy of Saturday’s The West Australian, including a free Western Force poster.
