Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill is still not happy Matt Henjak is in South Africa but won't stop him playing in the Western Force's Super 14 opener against the Sharks in Durban.

Following Henjak's controversial inclusion on the tour, despite his alleged part in a brawl which broke teammate Haig Sare's jaw, he was cleared to play by RugbyWA when a disciplinary panel on Wednesday night adjourned a hearing to next week.

Coach John Mitchell then stuck to his word and picked the former Wallaby scrumhalf, expressly against the ARU's wishes.

After suggestions a furious O'Neill could intervene and stand Henjak down, the CEO said he was pleased the disciplinary process had started - but was still ready to come down hard if the Force did not.

"We are pleased that the process is underway and we understand the reasons for the adjournment," O'Neill said.

"We will be keeping a watching brief over the matter. We still have the right to intervene if we believe that the tribunal hasn't come to the right conclusion.

"And my view hasn't changed. Matt Henjak should not have travelled to South Africa."

Henjak, Sare, the group of players with them at the Left Bank bar in Fremantle last Sunday and the RugbyWA discipline tribunal will gather again by telephone link-up on Tuesday to decide the halfback's fate.

Under immense ARU pressure, the Force fast-tracked the hearing to Wednesday night - before adjourning it so Sare and Henjak's lawyers could prepare their cases.

And WA police said they would also be contacting Sare to see if any police charges were warranted.

In the meantime, Mitchell is trying to prepare for a massive test so early in the season.

The right wing spot of Sare, who will miss at least six weeks after a plate was inserted in his broken jaw, was taken by Port Macquarie-born winger Nick Cummins who will make a Super 14 debut.

Three more rookies were named on the Force bench, Henjak's potential replacement scrumhalf James Stannard, lock Sitaleki Timani and 21-year-old league convert Josh Tatupu, who took Sare's place on the plane.

Mitchell said he had opted for starting experience with five World Cup Wallabies in Nathan Sharpe, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Scott Staniforth and Cameron Shepherd in the first XV.

"I don't know how you'd define a full strength team but we've certainly opted for players with more experience in this competition," Mitchell said.

"We're delighted with the way some of the younger squad members are pushing through.

"We've got three young guys on the reserves bench who will get their first opportunity to experience rugby at this level and a couple of others in the squad who will get an opportunity in the starting team during this tour."

New Sharks captain Johann Muller will lead his side out in his 50th Super rugby outing, but there is a huge injury doubt over imported French playmaker Frederic Michalak.

Should his calf muscle niggle not recover, Francois Steyn would take his place at flyhalf, and Stefan Terblanche would move into fullback.

Muller said, despite the problems off field, he thought the Force would be united on it.

"They are by far the best Australian outfit, a very balanced side and we will have to play very well to beat them," Muller said.

"Last year they gave us a bit of a hiding up front, and their forwards were outstanding in the whole Super 14. When we played them, we came off second best."

Western Force: Cameron Shepherd, Nick Cummins, Ryan Cross, Scott Staniforth, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), David Pusey, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Gareth Hardy. Res: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Hodgson, James Stannard, Scott Daruda, Josh Tatupu.

Sharks: Francois Steyn/Stefan Terblanche, Henno Mentz, Waylon Murray, Bradley Barritt, JP Pietersen, Frederic Michalak/Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, AJ Venter, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller (capt), Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira. Res: Craig Burden, Kees Lensing, Jannie du Plessis, Jean Deysel/Albert van den Berg, Rory Kockott, Adrian Jacobs, Stefan Terblanche.

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