Western Force coach John Mitchell insists it's business as usual at the Super 14 club despite the results of an independent inquiry into his behaviour soon to be handed down.

The Force's pre-season was thrown into chaos late last year when Mitchell was barred from contacting his players after the club received a raft of complaints about the former All Blacks coach.

The club even went to the extraordinary length of hiring retired Supreme Court Judge Robert Anderson QC to investigate Mitchell's behaviour, while a mediation process between Mitchell and his assistants was also undertaken.

But Mitchell is adamant there is no tension at the club and the off-field drama hasn't distracted the squad ahead of Friday night's pre-season clash with the Crusaders in Perth.

"You wouldn't even know the situation we've been through even exists," Mitchell said at training on Wednesday.

"It's not even talked about within the environment.

"Everyone's focused on what's important, all their energy's going towards that and I think everyone needs to be commended on that basis.

"We are still physically conditioning right up until round one so there's a lot more important things on the agenda (than worrying about the inquiry)."

Mitchell revealed he had no idea when Justice Anderson's findings would be revealed, although it could be as early as next week.

"We are not sure of that situation; we'll just leave that to the QC Rob Anderson and get on with what we're good at and that's playing rugby," Mitchell said.

ARU policy stating players need to take a certain amount of time off per year means star flyhalf Matt Giteau, skipper Nathan Sharpe and centre Ryan Cross couldn't be considered for selection against the Crusaders, while Pat O'Connor (hamstring), James O'Connor (virus), Scott Staniforth (knee) and Sam Wykes (shoulder) are also unavailable.

But Wallabies fullback Cameron Shepherd, who negotiated his way through an intra-club hit-out last week, will play his first competitive fixture since breaking his ankle in Australia's win over France last July.

"Cameron's been phenomenal," Mitchell said.

"He looks like he's jumping out of his skin.

"There's nothing worse than coming back form a fracture - you have to get started, get that confidence back.

"He's building with every physical outing."

In the absence of Sharpe, star flanker David Pocock will captain the 27-man squad in a match that will be played in three 30-minute periods.

The Crusaders, under new coach Todd Blackadder, will be without All Blacks Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Brad Thorn and Ross Filipo.

But All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald, who has not played since suffering a serious head knock against South Africa last July, has been named in the starting XV.

Western Force: David Pocock (capt), Pek Cowan, Tai McIsaac, AJ Whalley, David Pusey, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, Tamaiti Horua, Josh Valentine, Scott Daruda, Drew Mitchell, Josh Tatupu, Junior Pelesasa, Haig Sare, Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Holmes, Kieran Longbottom, Richard Stanford, Richard Brown, Chris O'Young, Nick Cummins, Cameron Shepherd, Gareth Hardy, Troy Takiari, Justin Turner, Filipe Manu, Ben Whittaker.

Crusaders: Owen Franks, Daniel Perrin, Peter Borlase, James Broadhurst, Isaac Ross, Ash Parker, George Whitelock, Nasi Manu, Steve Alfeld, Colin Slade, Kade Poki, Ryan Crott, Adam Whitelock, Jared Payne, Leon MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Jason Macdonald, Bronson Murray, Michael Paterson, Jonathan Poff, Thomas Waldrom, Andy Ellis, Hamish Gard, Tim Bateman, Casey Laulala.

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