The Western Force are going into Saturday's tough Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific clash against Fijian Drua with plenty of belief after the huge confidence boosting victory over the Queensland Reds.
Playing Drua on home turf is never easy and coach Simon Cron said while the 42-19 win in Brisbane was a performance to build on they had quickly turned their focus on the Round 9 game in Lautoka.
"It's about belief, belief in each other, belief in the strategies, and playing for 80 minutes," Cron told reporters at Friday's CD Dodd Coaches’ Conference.
"They had belief from 60-65 minute performances previously against some of the bigger teams.
"It's just being able to maintain that tempo and be able to control the game in that second half.
"That was a good performance to build on. It's about continuing to grow the want to play for each other. It's a crucial game for us.
"We've got to keep layering performance in performance. The mood has been good. It's always more fun after a win."
Tropical Cyclone Vaianu swept through before the side arrived on Wednesday night.
"It's blown through she's hot, humid, It's Fiji," Cron said.
"Drua are always at their best at home. We know what to expect from them.
"The crowd, their skill set, the conditions, all those things are different layers but at the same time it's our job to be able to counter that and do what we do on that field too."
Captain Jeremy Williams returns after clearing his return-to-play head injury protocols with Zac Lomax in line to make his debut from the bench after last week's false start.
Cron has been forced into changes after the loss of prop Tom Robertson (concussion protocols), winger Darby Lancaster (ankle) and second-rower Darcy Swain (illness) from the last round.
Sef Fa’agase replaces Robertson, Hamish Stewart starts at outside-centre with George Bridge moving to the wing.
Cron said he was "gutted" to lose Lancaster who will be out for the "medium term" but Dylan Peitsch had recovered after limping off against the Reds.
Ten players are now sidelined, a situation that Cron said would have been "fatal" last season.
"It's a good sign of depth," he said. "The boys who are sitting behind those guys are ready to step in now and we've got a little bit more depth to handle those moments."
Cron was confident Lomax would make his much anticipated first appearance and said playing in front of a passionate Fijian crowd would not trouble him.
"He would be OK under any environment," he said. "He's pretty experienced in what he's done and we'll see that on the park."
Cron said prop Harry Johnson-Holmes coming from the bench brought leadership and experience for "championship minutes" in the second half while the centre pairing of Bayley Kuenzle and Hamish Stewart brought stability to the backline.
The Force will be up against a couple of ex-teammates in scrum-half Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and winger Manasa Mataele while former coach Tim Sampson is in charge of the Drua attack.
Western Force team starting side: 1 Sef Fa’agase, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Misinale Epenisa, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Jeremy Williams (c), 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (vc), 7 Jack Daly, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9 Henry Robertson, 10 Ben Donaldson (vc), 11 Dylan Pietsch, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Hamish Stewart, 14 George Bridge, 15 Mac Grealy.
Reserves: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopeti Faifua, 20 Will Harris, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax.
Fijian Drua starting side: 1 Haereiti Hetet, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 3 Mesake Doge, 4 Isoa Nasilasila (co-c), 5 Joseva Tamani, 6 Etonia Waqa, 7 Motikiai Murray, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 11 Ilaisa Droasese, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre (co-c), 14 Isikeli Basiyalo, 15 Isikeli Rabitu.
Reserves: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Vilive Miramira, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Game details
Fijian Drua vs Western Force
Saturday 11 April, 12:35pm WST
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Live on Stan Sport
