Cummins tops Force injury worries

Western Force have been hit by a triple injury blow on the eve of their bid for a maiden Super Rugby finals appearance.

Winger Nick Cummins is almost certain to miss tonight's crucial clash with the Blues at nib Stadium, while centre Kyle Godwin's season is over and winger Luke Morahan's prospects are bleak.

Cummins sustained a neck injury in the Wallabies' first Test against France which worsened when he played the next two matches.

If Cummins is ruled out after a late fitness test today, Junior Rasolea will move from the reserves in his comeback from a broken wrist.

Rasolea, predominantly a midfielder, has not played on the wing this year and made only three appearances on the flank last season.

Dillyn Leyds, from the wider training group whose only appearance was from the bench against the Crusaders, will come into the reserves.

Godwin is still in a knee brace after injuring his left posterior cruciate ligament in last month's game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Coach Michael Foley said the initial damage had seemed "reasonably innocuous", but scans later showed more damage.

"Putting him on the field would be risking a more serious knee injury," Foley said.

Morahan has re-torn a hamstring.

"Luke has had a little setback," Foley said. "We'll be cautious. It just hasn't responded as well as we would have liked."

Two wins from the next three games against the Blues and Reds at nib Stadium and the Brumbies in Canberra should get the Force into the play-offs. Three wins would likely bring a home final.

"We have tried to eliminate distractions. You get distracted, whether it's by things externally or internally, and that's one of the things that holds teams back," Foley said.

"This weekend is the biggest challenge for us.

"The Blues are a very talented team, nearly an all-international forward pack, incredible talent out wide and on the inside channel someone like Ma'a Nonu, who is one of the premier No.12s in the world."

Force centre Chris Tuatara-Morrison, in only his third Super start, is not overawed by Nonu.

"Ma'a's been a top player for a long time and is a real leader in their back line, but they have a lot of dangerous players in their whole team so unfortunately we can't afford to focus on just one player," Tuatara-Morrison said.

"The Blues are a very talented team, nearly an all-international forward pack …""Force coach *Michael Foley *