Western Force coach Simon Cron says the side had not dwelled on the so-called mystique and aura of Auckland's Eden Park as they prepared for Friday’s SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 12 clash with reigning champions Blues.
In the run to the finals the game was just another "biggie" Cron told reporters during the CD Dodd Conference after Thursday's Captain's Run.
He said the match (kick-off 3:05pm WST and live on Stan Sport) was "as big as all the others".
"They are all big," he said. "Every week is a biggie. It is a really important game. The boys are ready to go.
“It’s a great opportunity to come to Eden Park and play. They’re excited.
"It's a privilege to play at the stadium but it's a field, it’s grass, it's got white lines. It's important that we can perform at any surface at any time.
"For us it's about focusing on what we do and how we do that. I’ve got no doubts it’ll be a great game.”
Cron said the squad had been working on their defensive connection after the last round 56-22 loss to the Chiefs.
"Working hard on individual one-on-one chop tackles, making sure we don't fall of those, making sure we don't miss tackles," he said.
He also said they had to seize try scoring opportunities after missing out on a few last week.
The spotlight has been firmly on the return of 95-cap international Kurtley Beale who ruptured his Achilles tendon 10 months ago while playing for Randwick just days after a Wallabies recall.
Beale, who played seven games for the Force after joining the club mid 2024-season, will start at full-back in a re-shuffled backline.
Beale has been in full training for a month, Cron spoke with him before finalising the side, and said the time was right to "give him a good go at it"
"He was really positive and that gives you confidence that he feels he's ready," Cron said.
"That's important, and then you back him in."
Cron said Beale added an enormous presence on the field and was not rusty after his long recovery.
"He has a great voice, everyone in front of him does a lot of good stuff when he is on the field," he said.
"He communicates a lot, he's got beautiful running lines, great catch-pass skill set. All of those things he's renowned for he still possesses. He's a great man to watch play."
Beale said he had thought about retiring and Cron said coming back from a ruptured Achilles was not an easy path.
Players had to be really driven to comeback from a serious injury to get back to Super Rugby level.
"He is the epitome of driven," Cron said. "You could definitely see at times that it was tough on him.
"Now he's physically involved with the team you can see him spike."
Mac Grealy moves from full-back to the left wing on Beale's return, Bayley Kuenzle, in his 50th Super Rugby game, starts at outside centre where he forms a new midfield partnership with Hamish Stewart. Harry Potter is on the right flank.
Kuenzle returned after nine months on the sidelines following knee surgery to score in each of the last two games.
Cron said playing on the wing had given Kuenzle confidence and the chance to re-learn the role of outside centre - his favoured position.
"You can't underestimate how much he means to the team," Cron said. "He's a big part of the Western Force. He's a big part of our squad.
"He's a lovely bloke who works really hard. Hard work gets results and he's the epitome of that.
"He's also an amazing athlete. It's great to have him back in the team."
Captain Jeremy Williams returns to the starting side and links with Darcy Swain in the second row.
Reed Prinsep will start at No. 8 joining Nick Champion de Crespigny and Carlo Tizzano in the back row.
Henry Robertson holds his spot at scrum-half, teaming with playmaker Ben Donaldson.
The front row is unchanged, Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly and Tom Robertson to start, while Fortescue Academy hooker Albert Alcock is in line for his Super Rugby debut from the bench.
Atu Moli and Josh Thompson are added to the reserves, with Wallabies scrum-half Nic White returning from head injury protocols.
Cron said Robertson had managed the game well from the No.9 spot and deserved another opportunity.
Western Force
Starting XV; Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano, Reed Prinsep; Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Mac Grealy, Hamish Stewart, Bayley Kuenzle, Harry Potter, Kurtley Beale
Reserves; Albert Alcock, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Josh Thompson, Will Harris, Nic White, Max Burey, George Poolman.
Blues
Starting XV; Joshua Fusitu’a, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Laghlan McWhannell, Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Taufa Funaki, Beauden Barrett, A.J. Lam, Rieko Ioane, Cole Forbes, Stephen Perofeta.
Reserves; Kurt Eklund, Mason Tupaea, Angus Ta’avao, Josh Beehre, Cam Christie, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, Corey Evans.
Game details
Blues vs Western Force
Friday 2 May, 3:05pm WST
Eden Park, Auckland
Live on Stan Sport
