Western Force coach Simon Cron has brushed off suggestions he made big changes for the SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 5 clash because of the enormity of the task against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Cron made a raft of moves to the side that went down 34-10 to the NSW Waratahs in the last round but said the opposition played no part in his selection process.
He lost winger Dylan Pietsch with an MCL injury picked up against the Waratahs and back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny, ruled out under HIA protocol.
The Force managed Test quartet Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Hamish Stewart and Carlo Tizzano, with Club 50-gamer Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey and Reesjan Pasitoa coming into the starting XV to form their 9-10-12 combination.
Cron said it was not in the Force DNA to consider losing a game, insisting his players have a big opportunity to step up.
"It's nothing to do with who we are playing," Cron told reporters during the CD Dodd conference from New Zealand on Friday.
"When you talk about getting in the fight....we don't forecast any losses. Who would? No-one in sport.
"If you're not in sport, and maybe you've never competed in your life, you might.
"We don't have that mentality. I'm sure some people in their lives have that. That's not us.
"When these boys wake up and go to the toilet, they compete."
Cron said Rugby Australia protocol - impacting their selection of their Wallabies - was based on players not playing six consecutive games.
"We've got an eight-nine game streak where we need to make sure we are lining up with what the national body wants," he said.
"It's more about the travel and when they are the road and when they are not.
"We felt coming to Christchurch and then flying to Perth can be quite a big journey.
"We felt it was the best time to give those guys the opportunity to get a little bit of downtime."
Cron said the moves opened up opportunity to others waiting in the wings.
"You can only shadow box so long and it's a great opportunity for some guys to get in the ring," he said.
"We have to create depth in our squad, we've said it from day one, and we've got guys that we trust and believe in.
"Who's to say that we wouldn't have made these changes anyway at different stages in the season.
"It's just a really good opportunity to step forward and step up."
Among those stepping up are homegrown flanker Kane Koteka who will make his long-awaited return to Super Rugby Pacific, and fly-half Coby Miln, set to make his Force debut from the bench.
Koteka will make his first appearance in 1,050 days, dating back to Round 11 2022, while Miln, leading point scorer in the 2024 NSW Shute Shield season for Warringah Rats, joined the Force on an injury cover contract.
Cron said Koteka had "hard shoulders".
"Step forward mate. Let's go at it," he said. "Get into it."
Wallabies front-rower Tom Robertson will make his 100th Super Rugby appearance and scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa brings up his 50th Western Force cap.
The Crusaders, with a dozen Super Rugby titles under their belt, produced a display of running rugby in their comprehensive 43-19 win over the Queensland Reds.
"It's a great challenge coming to Christchurch and playing the Crusaders," Cron said. "It's an impressive line-up of players.
"They have pace on the edges, a number of All Blacks in midfield to pick from a number.
"They always have had and probably always will do.
"Their counter-attack is right up there with the best in the competition.
"They've got good contact zone. It's about controlling our game.
"The contact zone will be critical, making sure we stay on for 83 minutes.
"The basics is really important, sticking to tackles, making sure we play in the right end of the field."
Game details
SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 5
Crusaders v Western Force
Saturday 15 March, 11:35am WST
Apollo Projects Stadium
Live on Stan Sport
