Force add some Wallaby muscle for Canes
In a huge boost to the Western Force pack and front row in particular Faulkner has been injected straight into the starting line-up after recovering from a knee injury – suffered in the pre-season – ahead of schedule.
Veteran flyhalf Peter Grant will make his first start in the Western Force jersey after coming off the bench in the opening rounds. Grant starts for Jono Lance, who has gone down with a pectoral injury suffered in last week's meeting with the Brumbies.
In further changes to the run-on side, Nathan Charles returns to start at hooker, Angus Cottrell has been selected for his first start of the season at blindside flank, Marcel Brache comes onto the left wing for Luke Morahan and Alby Mathewson will wear No.9 against his former side.
In the front row Pek Cowan once again starts at loosehead linking up with Charles and Faulkner as the Force field their most experienced front row possible with a combined 232 Super Rugby caps.
The second row remains unchanged with Adam Coleman partnering with Ross Haylett-Petty who gets his second start after impressing in his run-on debut last week.
The formidable paring of Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman make up the back row, alongside Cottrell who will look to make the most of his start at blindside.
The old heads of Alby Mathewson and Peter Grant will partner in the halves for the first time while Solomoni Rasolea starts at inside centre after a strong showing last week with Ben Tapuai named at outside centre.
After bagging his second try of the season last week Luke Morahan will miss this weekend's game and Marcel Brache will man the right wing with Semisi Masirewa on the left while the in-form Dane Haylett-Petty will once again start at fullback.
Coming off the bench, the experienced Heath Tessmann and Steve Mafi will look to make an impact when called upon.
While Ryan Louwrens has been named for his first appearance of the season after earning seven caps in a breakout year in 2015 and New Zealand recruit Albert Nikoro is set to make his Western Force debut off the bench.
Western Force: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Marcel Brache, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Solomoni Rasolea, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Ross Haylett-Petty, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Chris Heiberg, 17 Heath Tessmann, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Albert Nikoro.
Date: Friday, March 18
Venue: Central Energy Trust Stadium, Palmerston North
Kick-off: 19.35 (14.35 AWST; 08.35 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
