Western Force v Bulls: Teams

Western Force have suffered fresh injury setbacks ahead of their clash with defending champions the Bulls in Perth.

Hooker Ryan Tyrell and lock Sam Wykes have joined the lengthy injury list at the ME Stadium, with Brett Sheehan and Scott Staniforth both facing late fitness tests.

André Pretorius, David Pocock, Richard Brown and Cameron Shepherd are already facing long spells out, while Matt Dunning, Dane Haylett-Petty, Joelin Rapana and Jono Jenkins are also injured.

Coach John Mitchell will hand Ben Whitaker his first start in the No.2 jersey, while Tom Hockings comes in for Wykes.

On the bench Australia prop Pek Cowan is recalled, while 18-year-old flank Ted Postal is braced for his first Super 14 apparance.

Jaco Pretorius is set to partner Wynand Olivier in the Bulls midfield on Saturday.

Pretorius has recovered from injury to replace Stephan Dippenaar in the only change to the side that beat the Hurricanes.

That means scrum-half Fourie du Preez is be fit to start despite injury worries early in the week.

Western Force: 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Mitch Inman, 10 David Hill, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Richard Stanford, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ben McCalman, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Pek Cowan, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Luke Jones, 19 Ted Postal, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Haig Sare.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.