Former Wallabies kicking coach Ben Perkins believes Cameron Shepherd will make the Western Force's huge loss of Matt Giteau easier to bear by taking his goalkicking to the next level.

Perkins resumed his hands-on work with both Shepherd and Giteau in the unlikely New Zealand tourist destination of Queenstown on Monday as the Force prepared to take on battling Super 14 champions the Crusaders.

The eccentric Perkins said fullback-winger Shepherd would quickly fill Giteau's boots successfully in 2010 when the Test five-eighth returns to the Brumbies.

And to ensure it occurred, Perkins said he was keen to take over from current Force kicking consultant Darryl Halligan, who will finish his role this season.

Shepherd showed his immense talent off the tee in the 31-13 loss to the Chiefs on Friday night, landing a 52m bomb and narrowly missing another from the same range.

"I think Shepherd's fantastic, there's not many players in the world that can boot them from 55 metres, that puts him in a rare group of players," Perkins said.

Shepherd could get more goalkicking chances with the Force this season if Giteau doesn't improve after a surprisingly off-key start to the year.

The Wallabies playmaker has slotted nine from 15, just 60 per cent, well down on his superb 81 per cent success rate back in 2007.

Perkins is also keen to tutor Force prodigy James O'Connor, who the West Australian club are desperate to keep as Giteau's No.10 successor.

"I haven't seen him kick yet but if you want to play 10 you've got to kick goals, simple as that, same as Quade Cooper at the Reds."

The Force's hopes of bouncing back against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday received a boost with All blacks skipper Richie McCaw ruled out with a knee injury which will sideline him for five weeks.

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