WESTERN Force fullback Cameron Shepherd has warned the Brumbies to expect an entirely different outfit when the sides meet again in round one of this year's Super Rugby after the ACT side defeated the Force 25-0 in a trial in Darwin on Saturday night.

Shepherd and another seven members of the Force's top 15, including David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe and Ben McCalman, didn't make the trip to Darwin, leading Shepherd to declare the Force will be a different beast altogether come February 24.

"A lot of guys were being rested and left at home to get over soft-tissue injuries and things like that so we can make sure everyone is fit and ready for round one," Shepherd said. "The group of guys we sent up there were pretty young and I think it was just good for them to get a taste.

"Pek Cowan, Salesi Mafu and Matt Hodgson were the only Wallabies to play, so we won't worry too much about the result. We left behind eight of what will be the starting 15.

"The team that played the Brumbies in Darwin won't be the team that goes on the park against the Brumbies in round one."

Other than former NRL winger Jordan Rapana, who has been ruled out of the season with a shoulder injury, the Force have no big names in the injury ward. And Shepherd expects the side's first XV to turn out against the Brumbies.

"We've had a really good pre-season and the boys are in really good nick, it's just a matter of getting the timing right," Shepherd said. "But I'm pretty sure you'll see the full side out there. Barring any new injuries, I'd assume we're good to go.

"It's always a bit weird when you play a trial against a team you're playing early on because you don't want to give too much away. It's a strange one.

"But when it becomes round one and when you've got everyone on board, it's probably going to be a different story.''

The departure of James O'Connor to the Melbourne Rebels led to many writing off the Force's hopes this year. But with a forward pack featuring seven Wallabies and a back line with an average weight of 103 kilograms across the back five, Shepherd insists the Force have the ingredients to be a threat in the Australian conference.

He is adamant the lack of recognised playmakers won't harm their chances. "We arguably have one of the best forward packs in the competition," he said.