Match PREVIEW

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The visit to Melbourne finished with many learnings and highlighted key areas of focus. The Force will be out with a vengeance when they take on the hard-hitting Moana Pasifika.

Moana Pasifika has shown plenty of firepower across their ranks with a strong centre pairing in Danny Toala and Fine Inisi and speed out wide in Anzelo Tuitavuki and Timoci Tavatavanawai. The Moana men will rely heavily on their experience and wisdom to get in the game early, where they’ll look to dominate physically and finish with flair in attack.

Head coach Simon Cron will again be testing the depth within his squad. Ollie Callan avoided a red card suspension and head knocks to Michael Wells and Jeremy Williams will see a re-shuffle of the pack. Here, the opportunity will arise for younger players to step up, get some game time and make their mark.

After being on the money in defence in Week 1, the Force lapsed against the Reds, and they’ll need to tighten up to combat the big physical shape of Pasifika. It can’t become a wrestling match, or the Force will feel like they’re on an 80-minute carnival ride. They need to shut down their opponents quickly and steal and disrupt as much possession as possible at set piece time and in the breakdown.

This will be a big test for the Force to see how they regroup and bounce back. Wanting to make HBF Park their fortress, they will use this as their extra motivation to get them over the line.