Chris Alcock has insisted that the Western Force have "a really good chance" of surprising a few people in this season's Super Rugby campaign.
The Perth outfit finished bottom of the Australian Conference last season, but the 24-year-old believes that the team has "developed" in pre-season.
"No-one knows how we will play and no-one knows our strengths so in some ways that makes us the dark horses. If we can get a good run going I think we will have a good shot at winning the Australian Conference," he told Sky Sports News.
"As a team we are gelling well. Most of the players know each other from either playing as the same clubs or from playing against one another. But we have really developed over the course of pre-season.
"We've a really good chance. This team hasn't any out and out stars. What it has got is 35 guys who want to work hard and prove themselves and I think that is crucial."
Alcock joined the club from Waratahs in the off-season.
