Western Force flyhalf David Hill will miss the club's final match of the season against the Sharks with an ankle injury.
Hill aggravated his ankle against the Lions a fortnight ago and again against the Cheetahs last weekend and had been on light duties in Durban.
He did not participate in Thursday's Captain's Run and has been replaced in the starting side by Mark Bartholomeusz, with Dane Haylett-Petty coming in as a reserve.
"I certainly would have liked to have been out there playing with the boys for the last game of the season and what will also be my final match for the club, but it's not to be," Hill said.
"The ankle has flared up in the last couple of weeks and unfortunately it just hasn't healed well enough to be out there on Friday."
Hill joined the Emirates Western Force in round five, on loan from Japanese club Toshiba, as a replacement for injured marquee player Andre Pretorius, and brought stability to the playmaker role.
He gained plenty admirers in the Force supporters ‘sea of blue' with an after the siren drop goal to secure a heart stopping victory against the Stormers at ME Bank Stadium.
Following a job well done with the Force, the 31 year old will now head back to Japan to continue his career with Toshiba.
"It has been really good, a great experience," Hill said of his decision to come to the Emirates Western Force.
"I suppose it could have gone either way not having played Super Rugby for a while but it obviously worked out really well and is something that I'll remember for a long time. The Force is a great environment and there are quality people in the organisation and I was really happy to have been part of it this season.
"As a team we've spent a lot of time together in a short period so you end up getting to know people pretty well. Like most teams you play with you end up forming friendships for life.
"After this round I'll be heading back to New Zealand to have a break for a couple of weeks and then to Japan on June 1st for pre-season training.
"It'll be a long 12 months in the end but it has been well worth coming to Perth and I'll leave with plenty of fond memories," said Hill.
The remainder of the Emirates Western Force squad completed a sharp session on Thursday and Bartholomeusz controlled proceeding with aplomb. The match against the Sharks rounds out the club's 2010 season and the Force have the opportunity to notch their fifth win of the campaign.
Western Force Squad
1 Pek Cowan,2 Ben Whittaker,3 Tim Fairbrother,4 Ben McCalman,5 Nathan Sharpe,6 Matt Hodgson,7 David Pocock,8 Richard Brown,9 Brett Sheehan,10 Mark Bartholomeusz,11 Cameron Shepherd,12 Ryan Cross,13 Mitch Inman,14 Nick Cummins,15 James O'Connor
Reserves:16 Nathan Charles (FR),17 Matt Dunning (FR),18 Sam Wykes,19 Tom Hockings,20 Justin Turner,21 Sam Harris,22 Dane Haylett-Petty
