With a new two-year deal locked away and his trusty assistants by his side, Western Force coach Michael Foley has set his sights on leading the Perth-based franchise to a maiden finals appearance this season.

Foley, senior assistant Dave Wessels, and attack/backs coach Kevin Foote all signed new deals on Monday that will tie them to the Force until the end of the 2017 Super Rugby campaign.

The trio masterminded the Force’s rise up the ranks last season, with only a last-round defeat denying the team a spot in the finals.

Although the bookies have once again written off the Force, Foley is optimistic about what his charges can achieve this season and beyond.

“For us, it’s certainly about attaining that first finals appearance,” Foley said.

“Once you do that you learn a lot from it. You gain confidence, but you also know what it is going to take.

“And once you lift the bar that little bit higher you can say, ‘Well, if we’re making the finals regularly, we can hope to challenge for the number one spot’, which is obviously the goal for everybody.”

Foley took over a Force side in turmoil when he arrived late in 2012.

The loss of skipper David Pocock to the Brumbies, and the mid-season departure of coach Richard Graham had left the Force devoid of leadership.

Foley himself was looking for a fresh start after rumours of infighting marred his short stint as coach of the Waratahs.

The Force finished 13th with just four wins and a draw in Foley’s first year as coach, but importantly the team unity was strong and the platform for future success had been laid.

Two straight losses to start 2014 heaped pressure on Foley, but the team responded with a franchise-record five straight wins to breathe life back into the season.

After securing his future in Perth, Foley is also a chance to be part of Australia’s coaching team at this year’s World Cup.

The former international hooker turned down the opportunity to coach the Wallabies’ forwards during last year’s northern hemisphere tour in order to concentrate on the Force.

But Foley will consider linking with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika for the World Cup.

The Force will be aiming to make a bright start to their 2015 campaign when they take on the NSW Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday.

With skipper Matt Hodgson set to miss the first two months of the season because of a torn hamstring, lock Sam Wykes will captain the side.