-
Nathan Sharpe for Force - Source: Getty Images
The Western Force will be aiming to put a major dent in the Crusaders' Super Rugby finals hopes when the two teams lock horns in Christchurch next Saturday.
The Force have endured a season from hell to date, with a raft of injuries, the departure of coach Richard Graham and just three wins to show from 15 games leaving the club with little to cheer about.
But stand-in coach Phil Blake wants his charges to finish the season on a high note and says a win over the Crusaders would be the perfect way to do it.
The Crusaders currently sit in fourth spot on 56 points, but could be overtaken by the Bulls (54 points), Sharks (54), Reds (53) and Hurricanes (53) in the final round should they lose to the Force.
A Force win would be a major bonus for the seventh-placed Reds, who are unlikely to overtake the Brumbies (58 points) in the Australian conference and must instead rely on snaring a wildcard as a top-six ranked side to make the finals.
Although Queensland will be favourites to defeat the NSW Waratahs on Brisbane on Saturday, they need at least one of either the Crusaders, Bulls or Sharks to lose in order to sneak into the post-season.
Blake said the 14th-placed Force were intent on causing one of the upsets of the season by defeating the talent-laden Crusaders.
"We're playing the best province in the Southern Hemisphere on their home ground," Blake said. "If we can grab a win and disrupt their season, it'll certainly be a nice way to go into our off-season."
Force stalwart Nathan Sharpe faces a race against time to be fit for the match after his back locked up just hours before the team's 32-9 loss to the lowly Blues on Saturday. The 34-year-old, who has already announced he'll retire at eason's end, was left bed-ridden by the incident, but is desperate to turn out for one final match for the Force.
"That's going to be a hard task," Blake said. "We're hopeful we can get him to the line, but we won't know until later in the week."
Force inside centre Winston Stanley will head back to Perth after dislocating his shoulder during the second half of the four-tries-to-nil loss to the Blues.