The Western Force and NSW Waratahs are set to face off in a thrilling climax to the 2026 Super Rugby AUS season, set to take place at Scotch College at Swanbourne.
The match looms as a critical fixture for both sides, with bragging right and preparations for the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season also hanging in the background.
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The Western Force come into the match as hosts, defeating the Waratahs 17-12 in Sydney last week and rewarding form with just one change to the side.
Harry McLaughlan-Phillips returns to flyhalf after some time in the Wallabies camp, and he is set to be well supported by a strong contingent of both Super Rugby talent and the best of Perth's Fortescue Premier Grade coming off the bench.
Complete with several Wallabies in Tom Robertson, Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor and Dylan Pietsch, with captain Nic Dolly at hooker, the hosts will be looking to secure the first title for the west since 2019, after losing last year's grand final to the same opponent.
“There's a good calmness and excitement about the group,” Western Force head coach Damian Steele said following the team announcement.
“It's obviously a unique opportunity to be in a grand final, and we're encouraging the boys to embrace that.
“We have to start again. It's nil-all when we start. That week in with the Wallabies training at that higher environment is a huge positive for him [McLaughlan-Phillips].
“He's got a spring in his step because he's had a week of training, but no playing. It's been a balance the whole way through for this campaign.
“This is a group of people that have been together for 10 weeks. We want to cap that off with a really positive experience. For us and our organisation and the Rugby WA community, it'd be awesome to have a good crowd there and a really positive game.
“Hopefully we can get the chocolates for them.”
The Waratahs, meanwhile, have made seven changes to the side that lost last week, with Teddy Wilson coming back into the starting side as scrumhalf.
He will be joined by prop Edwin Langi, lock Tom Girle, back-rowers Joe Mangelsdorf and Marshall Le Maitre and Randwick centres Charlie Bird and Nick Chan, the latter two among five Shute Shield players in the starting XV, with seven academy players also joining them.
The Waratahs will also boast a few Wallabies in Folau Faingaa and Luke Reimer, with Hadley Tonga set to bring significant experience from the Australia Men's Sevens off the bench.
The side will be determined to replicate last year's efforts, prevailing 33-26 after the siren against the Force to claim the inaugural title - and with 2027 shaping up as a significant year for the men in sky blue, victory would prove vital to start preparations off on the front foot.
“It’s an awesome opportunity for young guys to test themselves at this next level, and although we don’t have the Super Rugby and international experience like the Force do, I know we’ve got a huge amount of hunger and desire to compete," head coach Lachlan McCaffrey said.
“Last year we were massive underdogs going to Perth, we had a young group, showed a huge amount of fight, and won after the bell.
“I’ve talked about that experience [this week], how the desire to compete can surprise more experienced teams, and I’m a big believer that finals games are won by the team that wants it the most.
“I want to make the Waratahs into a successful, winning team. Winning on Saturday helps contribute to bringing a winning culture back to the Waratahs, and hopefully it’s a starting point for a successful 2027 with Super Rugby Pacific.”
FORCE (1-15): Tom Robertson, Nic Dolly (c), Misinale Epenisa, Will Harris (vc), Zak Healey, Kane Koteka, Jack Daly, Jackson Iose, Nathan Hastie, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Wallace Charlie, Kurtley Beale, Boston Fakafanua, Dylan Pietsch, Mac Grealy (vc)
Replacements: Albert Alcock, Max Sawers, Brad Kuhn, Regin Pratt, Aden Ekanayake, Ronan Leahy, Nate Gallagher, Tim Sail, Luke Aiken, James O’Connor
WARATAHS (1-15): Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins, Edwin Langi, Eamon Doyle (c), Tom Girle, Joe Mangelsdorf, Marshall Le Maitre, Isaac Fonua, Teddy Wilson, Max Burey, Otto Serfontein, Charlie Bird, Nick Chan, Freedom Vahaakolo, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong
Replacements: Folau Faingaa, Brady Dawson, Will Goddard, Toby Brial, Angus Scott-Young, Luke Reimer, Oniti Finau, Ben Fuhiniu, Hadley Tonga, Joe Dillon
