PHIL Blake has vowed to transform Western Force into a playoff team if he secures the vacant head coaching job next year.
Blake, who was the Force's skills and defence coach under the departed Richard Graham, has put his hand up for the top job.
It is understood there has been a flood of enquiries, including from former Springboks coach Nick Mallett.
A former rugby league star, Blake is ready to take the next step up the coaching ladder.
"I need to broaden," he said. "We have created a good culture. I hope to be around to see these blokes come through and flourish and turn into a finals team."
Blake is part of a coaching committee that will guide the Force for the rest of the season following the decision to stand down Graham after he announced last week he was defecting to the Queensland Reds next season.
The other members of the committee are forwards coach Nick Stiles, Force A-team coach Andrew Scotney, captain David Pocock and senior player Nathan Sharpe.
"We get together and plan the week," Blake said. "We put everything in place collectively.
"Before and after games I'll represent the coaching group. Nick and I will be in the coach's box. We haven't spoken about that too much, but we will."
When Graham announced he was leaving, Force said he would continue to coach the team this season, but the players voted him out.
"The players have been really good," Blake said. "We have moved on. We had to. We have half the season to go. There is a lot to accomplish.
"We aim to win every game we can. Nothing's changed."
The resolve of the Force will be put to the test when it hosts the Stormers on Saturday night.
The Stormers will be vulnerable playing the fourth game of their Australasian tour without injured key players Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Andries Bekker.
The absence of the towering Bekker will provide Sharpe with an opportunity to dominate the lineout and the flow of the game.
"We are coming off a bye," Blake said. "We will be energised. We will meet them head-on. It should be a good tussle.
"We've had a couple of good days. They are coming off a four-week tour. Some of our strengths will come to the fore.
"We have the capability to play for 80 minutes and if we do, we'll get the result we want."
Meanwhile, Blake said he was not disappointed about losing his place on the Wallabies coaching staff.
He had coached defence and skills at the Wallabies since 2010, but those roles have now been filled by Tony McGahan and Nick Scrivener respectively.
"You can't take those things for granted," Blake said. "They have taken another direction. I got an opportunity 18 months ago and I will forever be indebted to Robbie Deans for his faith in me. I had a wow of a time. I hope it will hold me in good stead. No one has security at that level. I'm grateful for the opportunity.
