Stability is crucial for the Western Force as they head to Brisbane for Saturday's SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific clash against leading Australian side Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Maintaining combinations and pairings was a challenge for coach Simon Cron last year but this season he has been able to select far more settled sides.
Cron highlighted the importance of back-row balance, where Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano and Nick Champion de Crespigny all retain their spots for Saturday's Round 7 clash (kick-off 4:35pm WST and live on Stan Sport and 9Gem).
"We've got to start to develop some core combinations in our group," Cron said during the CD Dodd Crono’s Conference after training on Wednesday.
"The last couple of years, that's been a challenge for us.
"Will Harris has been good and gets another crack at it, in combination with Nick and Carlo Tizzano. It's a nice group of loose forwards.
"It's a good Super Rugby back three and then we've got guys on the bench that can do a job for us really, really well."
The Force will be looking to avenge the heartbreak last minute 28-24 loss in the third round at HBF Park. Cron said they had learnt plenty about themselves from that defeat.
"It's a great one for us. It's an Australian derby," Cron said.
"For us it's about our game, what we need to do. The last three minutes of that game we had a great opportunity to shut that out.
"We learnt a lot from that as players and staff and what we need to do there. The boys will be much better for it.
"I feel we're in a better spot than we were then."
They will also be looking to avoid any repeat of the 59-13 defeat at Suncorp last year.
"Last time we played them in Queensland we got exposed on the edges," Cron said.
"They've got some fast boys, we got narrow on the inside, to be fair that's probably a little bit what we did against the Crusaders.
"Yeah, it's their home, but it's grass, white lines and a rugby ball. We don't take it too far in terms of location."
He said that against Fijian Drua the side were better on their feet and not "sinking into dead rucks".
But they still need to improve discipline, particularly in the early minutes of the second half.
"We were more connected. It's about repeating that again," he said.
"Discipline. It's about us. We get on side we'll be fine...always looking at improvements and fixes.
"The boys are really driven around making sure we keep trying to push our expectations and standards.
"We've got to really focus on getting better every day, every training, that's our major."
Wallabies winger Dylan Peitsch returns after missing the last two games with a knee injury.
"He's a beautiful runner and a great defender," Cron said.
"It's really nice having him back, he trained really well.
"It's a good addition but at the same time George Poolman last week did a really good job."
The only other change is loosehead prop Marley Pearce moving into the starting side.
Western Force team list
Western Force starting XV; Marley Pearce, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy.
Reserves; Tom Horton, Ryan Coxon, Atu Moli, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Reed Prinsep, Isaak Fines-Leleiwasa, Max Burey, Reesjan Pasitoa
Game details
Saturday 29 March
Queensland Reds vs Western Force
SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific Round 7
Suncorp Stadium.
Kick-off 4:35pm WST
Live on Stan Sport & 9Gem
