League recruit Lomax set for Super Rugby debut off the bench

SYDNEY, April 1 : Former Australia rugby league international Zac Lomax is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut off the bench this weekend after being named in the Western Force squad for their match against the Queensland Reds.

Lomax, who last played the 15-man game as a child, signed a two-year deal with the Perth-based Force last month after the rebel R360 competition was delayed for a year.

The 26-year-old, who is expected to play winger or centre, was named as a replacement for the outside backs on a bench also featuring highly experienced former Wallabies flyhalf Kurtley Beale.

"He's an athlete, a natural athlete - big, strong, fast, powerful," Force coach Simon Cron said after naming his team.

"So, we've done a bit of work with him since he got here and he's very confident he's ready, and we're in a position now where I think it's a great opportunity for him to play.

"He's coming off the bench so it gives him a chance to work his way into the game and yeah, he's a great player, and he's ready to go."

Cron also named Irish flanker Jack Daly to start at openside on his debut for the struggling Force, who will be looking for only a second win in their seventh match of the campaign at Brisbane's Lang Park on Saturday.

Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch was named to play his first match of the season after recovering from a foot problem but fellow test players Jeremy Williams (concussion) and Carlo Tizzano (knee) miss out because of injury.

The fourth-placed Reds have recalled Australia flyhalf Carter Gordon after he missed last week's 52-14 humbling at the hands of the Wellington Hurricanes with a lower leg injury.

He will be partnered by test scrumhalf Kalani Thomas, while exciting teenage talent Treyvon Pritchard makes