Western Force claim they are no closer to knowing whether star back James O'Connor will remain at the Perth-based Super Rugby franchise next season.

O'Connor is set to make a call on his future soon, whetting the appetite of all and sundry on Tuesday by tweeting: "Journos everywhere at training - nothing finalised yet tweeps n want you guys to be the 1st to know. Hopefully have something for you soon."

Melbourne Rebels, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and the Force are all in the hunt to snare O'Connor's services.

Force forwards coach Nick Stiles said he had heard nothing new on the O'Connor front.

"There's a lot of talk but I think it's all coming from the media," Stiles said.

"I don't know (what his decision will be).

"When James is ready to make his decision I'm sure you guys will be the first to hear about it.

"We feel we've got good development tools in place for him.

"We've recruited strongly. He came here and developed as a player and if he wants to continue developing, there's going to be a good opportunity for him to do that here."

Force scrumhalf Brett Sheehan said the speculation surrounding O'Connor's decision wasn't proving to be a distraction ahead of Saturday's clash with the ladder-leading Reds in Perth.

"It's not a distraction. It's got nothing to do with us," Sheehan said.

"We can only get on with our own work and the team's work.

"If it's going to be a distraction it probably will be for himself.

Sheehan had no issues with the speculation over O'Connor's future.

"Unfortunately that's rugby these days. It's professional sport and teams all around the world want certain players and he's just the number one pick at the moment," he said.

"He's an exciting young player. We know the talent he has.

"I'm sure it's a tough decision for him. It's obviously going to affect all parts of his life, so all the luck to him."

O'Connor is set to return against the Reds after missing the Force's two-game tour of New Zealand with a shoulder and neck injury.

Sheehan also missed the tour due to a biceps injury and is desperate to regain his No.9 jersey from scrumhalf Mark Swanepoel.

"Swanny and James (Stannard) have been doing a really good job (in the halves combination). It's up to the head coach," Sheehan said.

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