Cowan to lead the Force
Prop Pek Cowan will become the seventh player to captain the Western Force when he leads the side onto the field in the season-opener against the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.
The 26-year-old steps into the role in place of injured skipper Matt Hodgson, who remains sidelined after suffering a minor hamstring injury.
Cowan follows in the captaincy footsteps of Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Brett Sheehan, Brendan Cannon, Scott Staniforth and Matt Giteau.
Cowan leads a squad that features seven players in line to make their debut for the Western Force.
Flank Chris Alcock will make his debut for the Perth-based side after joining the squad from the Waratahs.
He joins a familiar Force forward pack that also includes the return of Sam Wykes (knee) and Ben McCalman (shoulder/broken arm) from lengthy injury lay-offs that disrupted their 2012 Super Rugby seasons.
The Western Force will run out a new-look backline, featuring a revamped halfback pairing of Alby Mathewson and former Waikato flyhalf Sam Christie.
The Kiwi combination will link with a fresh centre pairing of Kyle Godwin and Winston Stanley, while Alfie Mafi, Patrick Dellit and Will Tupou make up the back three.
"Friday is an exciting opportunity for our new side," Western Force coach Michael Foley said.
"As the pre-season has progressed, competition for positions has become more intense, which is a tribute to the players' efforts to continually lift the standards within the team.
"A key focus for us this year is to improve on the side's performances from last season and the higher we push our standards, the closer we come to achieving our number one goal of 'earning respect'."
The match provides reserve hooker Heath Tessmann's first opportunity to line up against his former province while replacement backs Mick Snowden, Sias Ebersohn and Junior Rasolea are also in line to make their provincial debut for the Western Force.
The side will be without Wallaby winger Nick Cummins, who will make his return via the Force 'A' curtain-raiser against Rebel Rising.
Cummins sustained a knock to his knee during pre-season training and did not participate in either of the side's pre-season trial matches.
Wallaby flank/lock Hugh McMeniman has also been rested after suffering a minor pectoral strain in the side's 46-0 final trial win over Tonga Select XV last weekend.
Western Force: 15 Will Tupou, 14 Patrick Dellit, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Alfie Mafi, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Toby Lynn, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan (captain).
Replacements: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Phoenix Battye, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Mick Snowden, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Junior Rasolea.
Date: Friday, February 15
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Richard Goswell (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
