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Bustling backrower Scott Fava is set to lead out the ET Perth Spirit in its Mazda Australian Rugby Championship clash against the Canberra Vikings on Friday night at Members Equity Stadium.
The former Brumby and Emirates Western Force vice captain will take over the reins from Matt Henjak if the latter fails a fitness test later this week.
Henjak, also a former Brumby and Canberra Viking, injured a knee in last Friday’s match against the Western Sydney Rams and looked likely to miss a week. But his injury is improving quicker than expected.
Fava moves back to his more familiar position of No 8, with Richard Brown shifting to openside flanker to replace the injured David Pocock, who also damaged a knee in the Rams game and is expected to miss at least six weeks.
Emirates Western Force blindside flanker Luke Doherty will make his debut for the ET Perth Spirit, as will Nedlands winger Dan Bailey.
In other changes, Scott Daruda moves from the bench to flyhalf in a direct switch with James Hilgendorf as part of rotation policy, as does hooker Luke Holmes for Tai McIsaac.
Recent Emirates Western Force signing Scott Fardy, a late withdrawal from the last week’s game because of a leg injury, is back on the bench. However, he will also need to pass a fitness test. Wests Subiaco lock Kitone Fuluna is on standby.
ET Perth Spirit Head Coach John Mulvihill said that before the start of the competition he believed the Canberra Vikings would be the hardest team to beat, and, after watching their game against the Melbourne Rebels, his view had not changed.
“We will have to step up a level for the contest at the breakdown because it’s going to be tougher there than last week,” he said.
“It’s an area the Vikings seem to be stronger and lower than most of the other teams in the championship.”
The squad is:
1.Pek Cowan
2. Luke Holmes
3. AJ Whalley
4. Tom Hockings
5. Sitaleki Timani
6. Luke Doherty
7. Richard Brown
8. Scott Fava
9. James Stannard (Matt Henjak)
10. Scott Daruda
11. Nick Cummins
12. Junior Pelesasa
13. Ryan Cross
14. Dan Bailey
15. Cameron Shepherd
16.Tai McIsaac
17.Troy Takiari
18. Scott Fardy (Kitone Fuluna)
19. Will Brock
20. James Hilgendorf
21. Lachlan MacKay
22. Ratu Siganiyavi
EDITOR’S NOTE
If Pek Cowan is suspended at tonight’s Judicial Hearing, his place will be taken by Troy Takiari and Kieran Longbottom will move onto the bench.