Expansive Force bank on SA contingent
The Perth-based franchise will take on last year's runners-up, the Hurricanes, in the first of the franchise's two pre-season trial matches.
The Western Australian franchise will look to start 2016 on the right note in what will surely be a hard-fought encounter, with both the Force and the Hurricanes expected to take strong line-ups into the clash.
The trial match will be the first real test for the Force's much talked about new attacking game style.
Michael Foley's men have been working tirelessly throughout the pre-season and will be keen to translate all of their hard work from the training paddock into a full 80-minute performance.
With a focus on playing exciting, fast-paced rugby, the Hurricanes will prove the perfect measuring stick for the Force – as the Wellington-based side were undoubtedly the most potent attacking unit in the competition last season.
And the Force's strong South African contingent will play a key role in the transition to the new game.
Prop Chris Heiberg, who featured for the University of Cape Town in the Varsity Cup before being lured to Perth, said he was "excited" about the new approach, but added that they still have to do the basics right.
"We are going to play a really exciting brand of rugby," he said at training on Friday.
"Hopefully we can implement that on Wednesday [against the Hurricanes]."
However, for the front row forwards their "bread and butter" remain the scrums, line-outs and defence.
""It is exciting," he said of the much-talked about faster game, adding: "But for us it is about doing our basics first and foremost."
Springbok flyhalf Peter Grant, recruited in the off-season to replace another South African in Sias Ebersohn, will be at the forefront of the Force's hopes of revival.
"That's all we've been working on in the off-season, just playing a bit more of an expansive game and improving our skills and the interaction between the forwards and backs," Grant told foxsports.com.au.
"We've definitely worked hard on spreading the ball a bit more and playing an attractive, exciting brand of rugby, which I love and it's the style of game I'll play.
"I think maybe towards the end of last season they weren't playing that style and it was a lot more kicking orientated and defensive, but we want to change that whole attitude and be more attacking and aggressive."
Grant played a crucial role in spearing the Stormers to three consecutive top-two finishes in the overall standings between 2010 and 2012, which included a final in 2010.
Eleven years after making his Super Rugby debut, the playmaker is as hungry as ever leading into his return to the competition.
"It was a great experience I had at the Stormers," Grant said.
"It was a good career there but the change was good for me.
"My goal is to do well here at the Western Force.
"I haven't won a championship with Super Rugby. I've played in a final but I haven't won it, so there's that achievement I'm aiming for."
