Force two down for Reds clash
Western Force have been hit by two crucial injuries ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
Prop Pek Cowan and full-back Dane Haylett-Petty were both injured in the club's impressive round-one win that stunned reigning champions Waratahs on Sunday in Sydney.
Cowan is likely to be out for two weeks after injuring his neck when a scrum twisted and collapsed midway through the first half of the 25-13 victory.
Haylett-Petty broke two small bones in his left foot as he was tackled, lunging for the line in the second half. Force staff hope he will be ready for the two-game tour of South Africa that includes fixtures against the Bulls (March 21) and Sharks (March 28).
The Force have flown prop Chris Heiberg and winger Mitchell Scott to the Gold Coast as they prepare for the game at Suncorp Stadium.
Captain Matt Hodgson is already out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury.
Luke Morahan would be favourite for the No.15 jumper but coach Michael Foley has several options.
"A couple of our guys have played 15, Marcel (Brache) has played 15 and Zack (Holmes) and Sias (Ebersohn) played a lot of their younger rugby at 15. We'll have a look at the balance of the side," Foley said.
Foley expects the Reds to bounce back after their 47-3 trouncing by the Brumbies.
"It's a massive challenge. They've got an eight-day turnaround coming into a home game. We've got a six-day turnaround," he said. "We've got to dive into next week and be on our game because the Reds will be desperate. It's a big game for us.
"We've got to get ourselves physically right."
The Force put in a massive defensive effort against the Waratahs and produced 18 turnovers.
·Melbourne Rebels co-captain Scott Higginbotham can face the Waratahs on Friday after being cleared of stomping by a SANZAR judicial hearing last night.
·Flanker David Pocock will be out for several weeks with a grade-one ankle injury picked up as his Brumbies beat the Reds.
