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The Western Force are likely to put re-signed centre Scott Staniforth straight into the action with a place in their squad to face the Chiefs in the third round of Super 14 on Saturday.
The Force are still waiting for the final clearance from the Australian Rugby Union but sees no hurdles to stop their 2006 player of the year taking part in the ME Bank Stadium clash.
The ARU initially rejected the Force bid to re-sign Staniforth on a short-term deal but the ban was lifted when he became a free agent after the collapse of his Japanese club Yokogawa last week.
And if the paperwork from the Japanese Rugby Union arrives in time, the Force's other new signing from the Toshiba club, former All Black playmaker David Hill, could also line up in the side.
Force assistant coach Richard Graham who is hoping the ARU does not drag its heels over Staniforth's paperwork, said the club was "just waiting for a clearance".
"It's good obviously to see him back, the rest is not in our hands at the moment
"The ARU are very supportive, we don't see an issue, just have to wait and see.
"He's been involved in the club for the past four or five years. (He's) very familiar obviously with the group and with the coaching staff, he'll have no problems."
Graham said Hill, who is expected to arrive in Perth later this week, was "50-50" to play even though he may only get Friday's Captains Run to meet his new teammates.
"No concerns," Graham said.
"He's an experienced footballer. He's played in New Zealand, the UK and Japan, so he's been under a number of different systems and I think he'd slot in here very easily."
Graham said it was a great relief to have the pair coming into the squad.
"Obviously we started the season a fit squad and throughout the season you are going to experience injuries but having experienced so many in such a short time, to reinforce that with quality people is outstanding."
And he did not rule out the side from finals contention even if they lost their third game in a row.
"It's going to compromise but not stop you from progressing later in the tournament," he said.
However, he warned that despite having injury concerns of their own the Chiefs, who put 72 points on the Lions in round two, while conceding 65, would be a dangerous side.
"The Chiefs are a team that can score tries from anywhere and anything. Last week it was (from) a re-start, a line-out, a scrum, anywhere.
"They've got a number of one-on-one runners that can hurt you.
"They play a very ad-lib style of football."
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...iefs-showdown/
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Originally Posted by zimeric
