Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver is prepared to face irate Western Force fans at next week's Wallabies Test in Perth.
Pulver confirmed on Tuesday that he will attend the Rugby Championship clash with South Africa at nib Stadium on Saturday week.
By that time Force fans are expected to know whether or not Rugby WA has been successful in its Supreme Court appeal against the ARU decision to axe the Force from Super Rugby.
Rugby WA president Hans Sauer has already urged Force fans to wear their team's blue colours - not Wallaby gold - to the match in protest, while predicting others will boycott it.
"I will be over there (in Perth) to watch our game against South Africa and I dare say a couple of Western Force fans will sidle up beside me, so I can look forward to that," said Pulver at the National Rugby Championship season launch in Sydney.
Pulver expected the outcome of Rugby WA's appeal to be delivered beforehand, but remained adamant removing the Force was the right decision.
The appeal follows the intervention of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest who last week offered to provide financial backing to save the Force and for "the future of rugby".
Pulver welcomed the late offer, but indicated money was not the only factor in cutting the force to leave Australia with four Super Rugby teams from next season.
"There are a couple of dimensions (to Forrest's offer) - the first is timing," Pulver said.
"We are way down the track having made commitments to (governing body) SANZAAR (South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentine Rugby) to go to four teams, and having had an EGM where our members voted to go to four teams.
"I wish he had been involved in the process a little earlier. That would have been helpful."
Pulver, however, welcomed potential player development investment from Forrest.
"There are plenty of opportunities to add to the player development pathway so if he has investment ideas we would love to talk to him," he said.
"If Mr Forrest is looking to invest in Australian rugby that is a wonderful thing."
Pulver said that the Wallabies' outstanding performance in a last-gasp 35-29 defeat by the world champion All Blacks in New Zealand last Saturday - following the record 54-34 loss to them the previous week - was evidence the team has a bright future.
"I think we all get the sense there is a great young playing group there ripe for development, and (coach) Michael Cheika is going to bring them along very well," Pulver said.
"Michael has blooded something 17-18 new caps in the last year and a half.
"To see them push the number one team in the world - arguably the best of all time - was very encouraging.
"It is a team in development but there are some very good early signs."
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