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Giteau happy but confused
By Tim Clarke
April 03, 2008 WESTERN Force talisman Matt Giteau has reiterated he is happy living and staying in Perth - but has admitted playing there is not proving quite as comfortable.
Giteau and the Force will again try to stamp some authority on their home ground Friday night, when they put last week's capitulation to the Stormers behind them to take on Super 14 champion Bulls at Subiaco Oval.
With the longer term playing future of the Australia star still up in the air, Giteau again reiterated his happiness with Western Australia as talks to keep him with the Force start up again.
However the Force's continued inability to turn Subiaco into a fortress - with four wins in 15 home games their current record - is something Giteau says he is still trying to fathom.
“Last year we lost our first two at home and then we won the rest, bar the last game against the Blues. So hopefully the same thing will happen this year,” Giteau told Fairfax radio.
“It is strange, but I think I have only lost one game wearing that (away) yellow jumper, so I might wear it underneath the blue one.
“(Last week's performance) is a tough one (as) to what to put it down to. Intensity at training was up, everyone seemed to be in a good frame of mind. It could be one of those things where you just put in a terrible performance.”
Giteau's re-signing with the ARU until 2011 last month was not accompanied by a similar signature for the Force, spiking the interest of Australia's other Super 14 clubs and making the 25-year-old the number one recruiting priority for incoming Force chief executive Greg Harris.
But as he has in the past, Giteau said life in Perth was giving him no reason to leave.
“I have started talks again with the Western Force. I love Perth and I love everything the Force have to offer at the moment,” Giteau said.
“What we are building at the club could be something really special for years to come. I am signed here until the end of 2009 and the way I am enjoying playing with the Force I see no reason why I would leave.”
While Giteau has recovered from a hip spike injury to face the reigning champions, Lachlan MacKay has not been so lucky, forced to withdraw with soreness in his troublesome groins.
The subsequent backline reshuffle will see Scott Staniforth move into midfield, Nick Cummins taking his place on the wing, and youngster Dane Haylett-Petty come onto the bench.
Mitchell said shifting Staniforth into his preferred centre position had been considered earlier in the year.
“He's always wanted to go there and he has been fantastic for the team contributing from the wing. At times we have wanted to put him in centre this year, but we have also wanted to put out our most experienced group,” Mitchell said.
Having questioned his players' attitude following the Stormers' debacle, Mitchell said he would not know whether the required change had been affected until game-time.
“There is probably more of an annoyed factor, and clearly attitude was not there last week. So it is a matter of getting our top four inches right,” Mitchell said.
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Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
Originally Posted by Thequeerone
man onto the field
