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A surprise appearance in a Sydney club trial has won former Wallabies player Scott Staniforth a recall to the Western Force team for Saturday's clash with the Sharks in Perth.
It marks a gutsy fightback by the utility back, who last started a Super 14 game 11 months ago in round nine 2008, following two knee cartilage injuries.
He made his comeback playing 12 minutes against the Cheetahs in round two.
Then a fortnight ago Staniforth made a secret trip across the continent to play a trial for his old side Eastwood against Norths. (A trip that was so secret that most of us knew about it weeks ago?)
While there were two men and a dog at TG Milner Field, for Staniforth that game was a very important one.
"They said they needed me to play a bit more footy and prove that I could play 80 minutes," he said. "It's been a long recovery but I'm feeling very good."
The under-rated back who should have played more than his 12 Wallabies Tests, gets his chance on the wing with Nick Cummins injured.
"For the past three weeks I felt like I have been ready to go and now I get the chance to make the most of it," he said.
Force coach John Mitchell has revamped his backline, moving teenager James O'Connor to full-back for the first time and Drew Mitchell onto the wing with Cameron Shepherd failing a fitness test on his ankle.
Junior Pelesasa forms a big new centre combination with Ryan Cross.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html