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KEY POINTS:
Two years after rushing to leave the Blues, five-eighths Tasesa Lavea has returned to lead the backline in the side's Super 14 start against the Force tomorrow in Perth.
Lavea has won the opening selection joust with former Hurricanes pivot Jimmy Gopperth in a Blues combination which has three starting debutantes for the franchise and a further quartet in the reserves.
Fullback Paul Williams, wing Rene Ranger and No 8 Chris Lowery will make their first appearances for the Blues who are missing some firepower with injured locking brothers Ali and Jay Williams and expectant first-time fathers Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino waiting in Auckland.
Coach Pat Lam has resisted the chance to include openside flanker Josh Blackie, who joined the squad in Perth when his Japanese contract expired after his side was beaten in the club playoffs.
The openside role, which has been vacated by new Reds signing Daniel Braid, has gone to Onosai Tololima-Auva'a but Blackie will challenge for that role when the squad travels on to South Africa for games against the Bulls and Stormers.
In the absence of the Williams brothers, the versatile Kurtis Haiu will lock the scrum with Anthony Boric, while new men Lowery and Ranger have been picked to deputise for Kaino and Rokocoko.
Lavea has resumed his Blues career after he became disenchanted with some of the direction and ideas from coach David Nucifora during the 2006 programme and left for two years with the neighbouring Chiefs.
Lavea has won the initial selection duel with the Hurricanes reject Gopperth, although coach Lam said both players would be used in what should be a rigorous comparison with the Force's star pivot, Matt Giteau.
WESTERN FORCE V BLUES
Perth, 11.45pm tomorrow
Paul Williams
Anthony Tuitavake
Isaia Toeava
Benson Stanley
Rene Ranger
Tasesa Lavea
Taniela Moa
Chris Lowrey
Onosai Tololima-Auva'a
Justin Collins
Anthony Boric
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock
Reserves: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Dean Budd, Peter Saili, Chris Smiley, Jimmy Gopperth, Jamie Helleur.
