Battered Reds change three

Reds centre Samu Kerevi will make his run-on debut against the Force in Perth on Saturday.

A continuation of the Reds' horror run of injuries has forced three changes, with last week's starters Greg Holmes (knee), Dom Shipperley (ankle) and Anthony Fainga'a (calf) all ruled out of this week's match.

Kerevi will start at outside centre, with Ben Tapuai shifting to 12. Ben Daley returns to the starting line-up at loosehead prop, with James Slipper shifting to tighthead. Lachie Turner will start on the left wing.

The injuries have forced Reds coach Richard Graham to make significant changes to his replacements bench as well, with four players – Sef Faagase (prop), Tim Buchanan (back row), Scott Gale (scrumhalf) and Sam Johnson (centre) – set to make their Super Rugby debuts if called upon.

After being smashed 40-14 by the Blues last week, the Force welcome back winger Nick Cummins, who missed the match with a neck complaint suffered during the Wallabies' three-Test series against France.

The Force will feature a new halfback pairing of Ian Prior and Zack Holmes, while Alby Mathewson (hip) and Sias Ebersohn (bicep) have been ruled out through injury.

In the pack, Wilhelm Steenkamp replaces Adam Coleman at No 5 lock.

Force – 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Ian Prior, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (c), 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan.
Subs: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Justin Turner, 22 Dillyn Leyds, 23 Solomoni Rasolea.

Reds – 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Lachie Turner, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Sef Faagase, 19 Dave McDuling, 20 Tim Buchanan, 21 Scott Gale, 22 Sam Johnson, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Photo: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

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