Force gearing up for battle with Ardie Savea's Moana

But optimism is high within the four walls, especially after recruiting the likes of Darcy Swain, Nic Dolly, Dylan Pietsch and Brandon Paenga-Amosa to go along with the return from injury of former All Blacks prop Atu Moli and the return from sabbatical of Tom Robertson.

Cron is now in his third season as coach at the Force, and he's embracing the challenge of bucking the odds.

"I think internal pressure is always higher," Cron said.

"I know externally there's always comments, but it's who's under the roof that know what's going on and what we're trying to do and achieve.

"Pressure - I tell you we put more pressure on each other than what we do externally.

"You're always a bit nervous at the start of the season.

"But the nerves are a positive. I feel with the group we've got at the moment with how tight they are and relationship wise, they want to fight for each other. It's a positive for us."

Moana are being tipped to collect the wooden spoon.

But the arrival of All Blacks loose forward Savea has given them hope of causing upsets.

Savea was voted the world's best male rugby player in 2023, and the Force will have to be on guard against the 31-year-old.

Wallabies newcomer Carlo Tizzano will wear the No.8 jersey on Saturday, meaning he'll go head-to-head against Savea.

"The attitude for us is it's about every person who takes the field, it's a 'second to no one' approach," Cron said of the challenge of taking on Savea.

"There's a level of humility - you have to be humble around what you're trying to do.

"But when you get on the field, you've got to bite your mouthguard and go to work.

"We can talk all we like, but we've got to do the actions on the field."

The Force will field nine club debutants against Moana, seven of whom will be in the starting line-up.

Paenga-Amosa wasn't selected, with the Wallabies hooker still building up his loads.