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QUEENSLAND hooker Sean Hardman could be the short-term solution to the Western Force hooking problem.
The club is also chasing Brumbies prop Nic Henderson and hopes to lure former Brumbies utility back Mark Bartholomeusz back to Australia.
The club wants Hardman, 32, as a replacement for Force foundation player Tai McIsaac who retired last season.
Hardman, who has played more than 100 games for the Reds since his 1999 debut, made the first of four Test appearances against France in 2002 and was third-string hooker at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
The Force had hoped to snare Australian U-20 captain Damien Fitzpatrick but he re-signed with the NSW Waratahs.
They also tried unsuccessfully to sign Tatafu Polota-Nau from the 'Tahs and Springbok Bismarck du Plessis.
The Force's only guaranteed hooker for 2010 is Australian U-20 representative Ben Whittaker, a great prospect who emerged from the club academy to make three appearances off the bench last season.
The club is looking at other Australian prospects, including Manly's Elvis Taione and overseas in the South African Currie Cup and New Zealand NPC competitions, and particularly at Waikato's Oli Avei.
Avei, 25, a former Australian U-21 and Schoolboys representative, played four Super 14 games with the Queensland Reds. He was in this year's Chiefs Super 14 training group.
Force rugby manager Mitch Hardy said: "The hooker spot is a priority, other things are falling into place, but hooker is a priority."
Henderson, 28, is needed to replace Troy Takiari, who has signed with French club Grenoble.
He has three Wallaby caps, has been a consistent performer in his six years at the Brumbies and in 2008 was voted their Forward of the Year.
Versatile utility back Mark Bartholomeusz, 32, could be lured back to Australia by the Force.
The club is well advanced in talks with Bartholomeusz who played last season with Italian side Padova.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/stor...005403,00.html