The Western Force will field two debutants in Jack Daly and Zac Lomax for Saturday’s away clash with the Queensland Reds, while Dylan Pietsch will return from injury.
Irish openside flanker Daly, 27, is named to start for his Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific debut, after the former Munster back-rower joined the Force during last year’s Super Rugby AUS having played for UWA in WA's Fortescue Premier Grade.
Athletic 26-year-old outside back Lomax comes in for his Super Rugby Pacific debut among the reserves after joining the Force earlier this month.
Pietsch will play for the Force for the first time this season following a foot injury, coming into the starting XV on the wing.
Tongan tighthead prop Misinale Epenisa comes in for his maiden start in Force blue while lock Franco Molina and full-back Mac Grealy return to the run-on side too.
Saturday's game against the Reds kicks off at 4:35pm WST, live on Stan Sport.
Jeremy Williams is unavailable after failing his head injury test after Saturday’s game against the Chiefs, having now entered into protocols. In Williams’ absence, vice-captain Nick Champion de Crespigny will skipper the side.
Carlo Tizzano is ruled out due to an MCL injury which will sideline him in the medium term.
In starting side, Epenisa will team up with Wallabies pair Tom Robertson and Brandon Paenga-Amosa on the front row. Los Pumas lock Molina joins Darcy Swain in the second row. The starting back row consists of Champion de Crespigny, Daly and Vaiolini Ekuasi.
Henry Robertson starts at scrum-half alongside fly-half Ben Donaldson, who is currently the joint leader of the Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year with 27 votes.
Pietsch’s return sees Bayley Kuenzle move from the wing into the centres alongside former All Black George Bridge.
Nine-cap Wallaby Pietsch and speedster Darby Lancaster will start on the edges, with Grealy rounding out the back three.
Hooker Nic Dolly returns to the matchday 23 among the reserves, with Sef Fa’agase, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Lopeti Faifua, Will Harris, Nathan Hastie, Kurtley Beale and Lomax starting as impacts.
Game details
Queensland Reds vs Western Force
Saturday 4 April, 4:35pm WST
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Live on Stan Sport
Western Force team list
1 Tom Robertson
2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3 Misinale Epenisa
4 Franco Molina
5 Darcy Swain
6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (c)
7 Jack Daly
8 Vaiolini Ekuasi
9 Henry Robertson
10 Ben Donaldson (vc)
11 Darby Lancaster
12 Bayley Kuenzle
13 George Bridge
14 Dylan Pietsch
15 Mac Grealy
Reserves; 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax
SKG Radiology Unavailable List
Jeremy Williams (head injury) – protocols
Feao Fotuaika (foot) – medium term
Doug Philipson (knee) – medium term
Carlo Tizzano (knee) – medium term
Alex Harford (shoulder) – long term
