Highlanders vs Western Force Prediction: Hosts to run riot in Dunedin

The Highlanders will look to continue their strong home record against Western Force in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday morning (04:35, live on Sky Sports Action) when they host the Perth outfit at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Alex Jack provides his Highlanders vs Western Force prediction, plus all the essential team news and match odds for the encounter in Dunedin.

Highlanders vs Western Force Odds

The Highlanders are the 4/11 favourites for the win, while Western Force are 12/5 to make the long trip back to Perth with the victory.

A draw in Dunedin is currently 16/1, while the Highlanders to be leading at both half-time and full-time are 8/13.

Team News

Starting with the hosts, the Highlanders go with Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor and Angus Ta'avao in the front row, with Oliver Haig and Mitch Dunshea in the second row.

Te Kamaka Howden, Veveni Lasaqa and Nikora Broughton complete the pack, with Folau Fakatava and Cameron Millar in the half-backs.

Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jonah Lowe start in the centres, while the Highlanders have gone with a back three of Jona Nareki, Caleb Tangitau and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

As for Western Force, the visitors start with a front row of Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Harry Johnson-Holmes, with locks Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain in the engine room.

Nick Champion de Crespigny, Carlo Tizzano and Vaiolini Ekuasi form the back row, while Nathan Hastie and Ben Donaldson start in the half-backs.

Hamish Stewart and Divad Palu combine in the centres, while the Highlanders go with George Bridge, Darby Lancaster and Mac Grealy in the back three.

Highlanders -12.5 @ 6/5

While Western Force have managed to win two of the last three meetings between these sides, those successes have not come on New Zealand soil.

The Highlanders have been formidable opponents in Dunedin, winning all of their last four home games against the Force.

An attritional encounter was played out at Forsyth Barr Stadium in their last meeting in New Zealand, with the Highlanders edging out a 7-6 victory.

A more one-sided game might well be on the cards this weekend, with the Force's defence expected to struggle against this powerful Highlanders outfit.

Western Force have conceded more points than any other side in Super Rugby Pacific after the first three rounds of fixtures.

Conceding 117 points at an average of 39 points per game, that sort of defence makes it extremely hard to win games in this competition.

Given the Force's shortcomings without the ball, the Highlanders have the potential to run riot at Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend.

With Millar pulling the strings in the No.10 jersey, the hosts are good value to not only win but also cover the -12.5 handicap on offer here.

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