Kiwi pivot David Hill will make his Super 14 return on Sunday, hoping to help minimise the effect of the multiple injuries that have struck the Force.
With a regular fly-half now installed, the coaching staff can also muse further over whether to run James O'Connor or Mark Bartholomeusz at centre outside Hill, with O'Connor having impressed in the role during this season's matches.
Suffering from injuries to a handful of key players, the team is yet to register a point in this season's tournament but the bye week last week came at an opportune moment and has allowed the squad to regroup.
"I felt so (the bye came at a good time)," said assistant coach Richard Graham.
"The introduction of David Hill also came at a good time with no pressure at the end of the week in terms of a game and it gave us an opportunity with injuries and to get ourselves right going forward.
"Certainly it wouldn't be a boil over. We've played three games and through circumstance we haven't got the results we wanted to get. If we got there and won, we would have deserved to."
Hill has already fitted into the team well in the limited time he has been in Perth and Graham is looking forward to seeing how his quality and experience helps the team, with O'Connor and Bartholomeusz as his supporting cast.
"He has slotted in very comfortably and we certainly haven't brought him over from Japan to sit on the bench. He will be an integral part of the team this weekend," he said.
"Obviously with his experience at ten in controlling the team and giving us a bit of guidance and shape around the field. You don't learn that overnight. Whilst James did a very good job in those two games, he's got some way to go if he's going to be a regular number ten.
"We're still reassessing a number of the other outside backs. We'll make a decision there and announce it on Thursday. The obvious benefits of having guys like James and Mark Bartholomeusz is that both can play in those playmaking roles so we've got a few options there."
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