Western Force will know by Friday whether they have been successful in luring Wallabies prop Matt Dunning to the Super 14 franchise.

And the Force have put an offer to Lions flyhalf Andre Pretorius after Stormers five-eighth Peter Grant knocked back the Force's advances.

Dunning, stranded on 99 caps for the Waratahs, is eager to come to Perth to further his career but is hesitant about leaving his family behind.

The 43-Test prop, who can play on both sides of the scrum, was forced to sit out the entire 2009 Super 14 campaign after tearing his Achilles tendon while playing for the Wallabies last November.

"It's a big decision for Matt," Force rugby manager Mitch Hardy said.

"He's just in discussions with family and trying to sort things out there.

"Possibly his family will stay on the east coast and he'll come over here for the six months per year.

"We were expecting a decision from him on Tuesday but we've given him a bit of extra breathing space so the deadline there is tomorrow afternoon.

"I think the family thing is the most important thing for him."

Hardy said the Force could provide Dunning with the perfect platform to press his claims for a Wallabies recall.

"We would have a great front-row trio there in (hooker Tim) Fairbrother, Dunning and (Pek) Cowan," Hardy said.

"Matt sees a big opportunity of coming over to the Force where he will get a lot of game time as opposed to staying at the Waratahs.

"He would also be able to put his best foot forward for the 2011 World Cup."

The acquisition of Dunning would more than offset the loss of fan favourite AJ Whalley, who will link up with French outfit US Dax next season.

"To have someone like Dunning, who has Test experience under his belt, coming back in to our organisation will bring a lot of experience back to the table," Hardy said.

Hardy said the Force had tabled an offer to 30-year-old Pretorius and were awaiting a decision from the 31-Test veteran.

"He's interested," Hardy said.

"(Coach) John Mitchell's had a chat to him and we've put an offer in front of him and we are just waiting for a decision.

"He has to weigh up where his rugby aspirations lie as to whether or not he still aspires to play for the Springboks and be involved in Currie Cup campaigns back in South Africa.

"We are hoping that the contract we put together will allow him to achieve both those options."

Star playmaker James O'Connor will wait to see who the Force secure as their new five-eighth before making a decision on his future.

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