Young guns feel the Force

Western Force will look to the future when they play the Chiefs with youngsters James O'Connor, James Stannard and Sam Wykes all named in the XV for Saturday's Super 14 tie in Perth.

Western Force will look to the future when they play the Chiefs with youngsters James O'Connor, James Stannard and Sam Wykes all named in the XV for Saturday's Super 14 tie in Perth.

Still only 17, O'Connor's selection is the biggest call by Force coach John Mitchell, with the highly rated youngster named at inside centre, immediately outside the fit-again Matt Giteau.

Wykes replaces Tom Hockings at lock and Stannard starts at scrum-half in place of Chris O'Young, with Scott Staniforth moving to the wing to replace the injured Haig Sare.

Staniforth is, however, troubled with a knee injury, and could be replaced by Nick Cummins.

Some new and some forgotten faces will also make their way on to the Force bench, with David Pusey in from the cold and West Australian products Kieran Longbottom and Dane Haytlett-Petty also in line for some game time.

Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Scott Staniforth, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 James O'Connor, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 James Stannard, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fava, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Sam Wykes; 3 Troy Takiari, 2 Tai McIsaac, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Keiran Longbottom, 18 David Pusey, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Scott Daruda, 22 Dane Haylett-Petty

Date: Saturday, 2 May
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 17:40 (11:40 BST, 10:40 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), D Mitchelmore (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia), Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)