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Scott Staniforth hopes his return to the Force will last at least until the end of the season after signing a four-game contract with the Perth-based Super 14 franchise.
Staniforth answered an SOS call from his former club after the Force endured a horrid injury run that cut down stars Andre Pretorius, Cameron Shepherd, David Pocock, Richard Brown, Ryan Cross and Mark Bartholomeusz.
The ARU initially rejected the Force's application to re-sign Staniforth due to his commitments in Japan.
But when the 32-year-old's club Yokogawa folded, the Force were given the green light.
Staniforth, who will line up on the right wing in Saturday's clash with the unbeaten Chiefs in Perth, said he was eager to play out the season with the Force and wouldn't rule out playing on next year as well.
"You never say never," Staniforth said on Friday.
"After four games we'll see how the team's going and how I'm going and then we'll readjust.
"The way things have panned out it's good to be playing footy again.
"You don't want to spend too long in the unemployment line so it's good to be wanted and also it gives me an opportunity to play Super 14 again, which I thought my opportunity had passed.
"I've done that (changed clubs) a few times.
"It does my wife's head in. I left the Waratahs and then came back here and left again."
Staniforth said he had encountered few problems slotting back into the Force's game plan.
"I suppose having the four years experience before makes it an easy fit," he said.
The Force have been boosted by the return of outside centre Cross, utility back Bartholomeusz and winger Nick Cummins from injury.
Wallabies teen sensation James O'Connor will start at five-eighth with Bartholomeusz making his Force debut at fullback.
The Chiefs ran in nine tries in last week's amazing 72-65 win over the Lions and Force coach John Mitchell said his side would have to be on full alert for another attacking barrage.
"Their intent ... was to play wide and have a real crack with the ball so I don't see that intent changing," Mitchell said.
"They're quite a formidable side."
The Chiefs will be without injured trio Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), lock Craig Clarke (groin) and prop James McGougan (back) but welcome back explosive winger Lelia Masaga, who has recovered from a shoulder reconstruction.
Colin Bourke has been promoted to No 8 in place of the suspended Sione Lauaki.
"They're very confident, they've got a lot of belief on what they achieved last year and to replace Sivivatu with Masaga ... let's not be fooled by their injury situation," Mitchell said.
The Force sit last on the table following losses to the Brumbies and Hurricanes and Staniforth said the side was desperate to kick-start their season with a win over the Chiefs.
Force: Mark Bartholomeusz, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Mitch Inman, Nick Cummins, James O'Connor, Brett Sheehan, Sam Wykes, Matt Hodgson, Ben McCalman, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, Tim Fairbrother, Pek Cowan, Nic Henderson. Res: Ryan Tyrrell, Matt Dunning, Richard Stanford, Luke Jones, Chris OYoung, Sam Harris, Dane Haylett-Petty
Chiefs: Mike Delany, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeney, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam (capt), Culum Retallick, Romana Graham ,Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo. Res: Aled de Malmanche, Ben Afeaki, Jarrad Hoeata, Luke Braid, Junior Poluleuligaga, Jackson Willison, Tim Nanai-Williams.
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Originally Posted by palitu
