Former All Blacks scrumhalf Alby Mathewson and rampaging forward Hugh McMeniman will return to the fray for the Western Force’s crunch Super Rugby clash with the Blues in Perth on Saturday night.

Mathewson (ankle) and McMeniman (collarbone) have been thrust back into the starting line-up after recovering from long-term injuries, while outside centre Marcel Brache (ankle) and No.8 Ben McCalman (groin) are other vital inclusions.

Utility back Junior Rasolea has been named on the bench after overcoming a broken arm, but winger Luke Morahan (hamstring), flanker Chris Alcock (shoulder) and inside centre Kyle Godwin (knee) remain sidelined.

McMeniman has been named in the back row in place of Angus Cottrell, who suffered season-ending ankle damage in the Force’s loss to the Crusaders late last month.

Mathewson, who hasn’t played since April 12, will come up against the Blues for the first time since leaving the Auckland-based franchise in 2012.

The seventh-placed Force can guarantee themselves a maiden finals berth with wins over the Blues, Reds and Brumbies over the next three weeks.

However, even two wins might be enough for them to secure a top-six berth.

Force coach Michael Foley said the return of several key players came at a perfect time.

“It’s good to have a number of players returning from injury as it intensifies competition within the squad as we move into the next three games,” Foley said.

“The Blues are a dangerous attacking side and the way we’ve defended, which has given us good go-forward this season, will again be an important part of a good performance on Saturday night.”

The 10th-placed Blues sit six points adrift of sixth spot, and they’ll need to win their final three games to have any hope of sneaking into the finals.

Force: Jayden Hayward, Dane Haylett-Petty, Marcel Brache, Chris Tuatara-Morrison, Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (capt), Hugh McMeniman, Adam Coleman, Sam Wykes, Kieran Longbottom, Nathan Charles, Pek Cowan. Res: Heath Tessmann, Tetera Faulkner, Oliver Hoskins, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Zack Holmes, Solomoni Rasolea

Blues: Lolagi Visinia, Frank Halai, Pita Ahki, Ma’a Nonu, George Moala, Ihaia West, Bryn Hall, Jerome Kaino, Luke Braid (capt), Steven Luatua, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tom Donnelly, Charlie Faumuina / Angus Ta’avao, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: James Parsons, Angus Ta’avao / Tom McCartney, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Hayden Triggs, Peter Saili, Piri Weepu, Francis Saili, Tevita Li.