Force v Highlanders: Teams
The stage is set for an emotional night as Western Force take on the Highlanders at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
Last Updated: 14/05/09 11:46am
The stage is set for an emotional night as Western Force take on the Highlanders at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday.
The Super 14 match is the franchise's last at the ground before a move next season to the rectangular Members Equity Stadium.
The club will bid farewell to foundation players Tai McIsaac and Scott Staniforth, who along with Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Tamaiti Horua and Josh Valentine will suit up for the final time in ocean blue.
The night will also feature a pair of significant milestones, and signal the end of a famous streak.
Twelve-Test utility Staniforth will earn his 100th Super Rugby cap in what will be his last match in Australia before moving to Japan to join newly-promoted Top League club Yokogawa.
The 2006 Player of the Year recovered from a pre-season knee injury and will reach the ton with his ninth appearance of the season.
Significant night
While Staniforth celebrates his century it will also be a significant night for flanker Horua, who will play his 50th Super Rugby match after being named in the starting line-up for the second consecutive week.
Horua, who played 31 matches for the Brumbies before joining the Western Force in 2008, will wear the number eight against the Highlanders with Richard Brown to remain on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The night will also see the end of a remarkable streak of consecutive appearances for hooker McIsaac, who by the end of Saturday night's fixture will have played in all 52 of the WA side's Super 14 matches since the team's inception in 2006.
Nick Cummins makes his return from a fractured leg and will start on the left wing, leaving Haig Sare to revert to the bench.
AJ Whalley will start at tighthead prop for the injured Ben Castle, who has played his final match for the club after spraining the AC joint in his left shoulder in last week's dramatic loss to the Stormers.
Inside centre James O'Connor (shoulder) and winger Cameron Shepherd (knee) will also miss the clash after being ruled out with injuries.
O'Connor's place in the starting side has been taken by Josh Tatupu, with Junior Pelesasa returning to the reserves bench after missing out on match time in South Africa.
Prop Troy Takiari has also been included on the bench for the first time since the opening round of the season.
The 31-year-old has had his season disrupted by a fractured hand he sustained in a weights session early in the season.
Highlanders news
Daniel Bowden's return from suspension has boosted the Highlanders ahead of Saturday's game.
Bowden received a one-week suspension following a dangerous tackle on Sharks centre Riaan Swanepoel two weeks ago.
In other changes from the Highlanders' 22-27 loss to the Lions last week, Fetu'u Vainikolo returns in place of Kenny Lynn on the left wing while George Naoupu comes in at number eight for Steven Setephano.
Mathew Berquist, still battling a back injury, is bracketed on the bench with Jayden Hayward.
Western Force: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Josh Tatupu, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Tamaiti Horua, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Sam Wykes, 3 AJ Whalley, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Troy Takiari, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Richard Stanford, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Junior Pelesasa, 22 Haig Sare.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Chris King, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Steven Setephano, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Jayden Hayward/Matthew Berquist, 22 Kendrick Lynn.