Star back James O’Connor believes the Melbourne Rebels are beginning a Super Rugby campaign in the best shape in their short history.

The Rebels rounded off preparations for Friday’s season opener against the Western Force with a free-wheeling 47-45 trial loss in Geelong to the Hurricanes.

O’Connor scored a try and kicked four conversions before heading to the blood-bin just before halftime to have 18 stitches inserted in a facial wound.

But there is no danger of the injury keeping him out of the upcoming clash with the Force at AAMI Park.

Coach Damien Hill confirmed that Kurtley Beale – impressive in his first outing of 2013 – would start at five-eighth against the Force, with O’Connor at fullback.

“In the Rebels team it’s always going to be 10 or 15 because of the style of rugby we play,” said O’Connor.

“I do want to play 10 – but KB is the incumbent Wallabies’ 10 and the way he plays with this team, I’m happy.”

O’Connor – who missed much of his first season with the Rebels due to liver and hamstring problems – said the team had never looked in better shape.

“It’s an enthusiastic group and our forwards have come on massively,” he said.

“What you saw today and last week (in a 24-16 loss to the Waratahs) – even the enthusiasm of the backs.

“We’re connecting really well, we’ve had a lot more time together this year.

“Having KB and (halfback) Nick Phipps come back as well and join in is giving us this extra bit of spark.

“It’s a great feeling.”

The Hurricanes were the leading try-scorers in last season’s Super Rugby competition – a reputation they lived up to in Geelong by overcoming an early 19-point deficit with seven tries in the last hour.

“Both teams would have got a lot out of it,” said Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett.

“I was certainly happy with the second 20 minutes and the second half.

“We can score tries, we can play with width and we can play close.

“We work hard at that and we know we can score tries and we know we can set teams up to ultimately get our ball players one on one.”