Western Force coach Michael Foley admits his team’s two-game tour of South Africa is their “banana skin” moment of the Super Rugby season.
The Force are on track for a maiden finals berth after snaring six wins from their opening nine games.
Going on ladder positions, the Force should have little trouble beating the last-placed Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and the 14th-placed Stormers in Cape Town.
But Foley, a former Wallabies hooker, knows all too well about the dangers of slipping up in South Africa, saying it would be naive to think the Force would romp to victories on this tour.
“The travel obviously throws people,” Foley said ahead of Sunday morning’s (AEST) clash with the Cheetahs.
“If you look historically at how many games have been won in South Africa from touring teams – including the Wallabies – it doesn’t happen often.
“There’s a lot of things to throw you off balance because you’re not in your normal routine.
“(The tour) is definitely a banana skin and, if you can get results from it, you’ve done a very good job.”
The Cheetahs rank third for tries scored this season, but their leaky defence has been their downfall.
However, they have proven they can match it with the competition’s best from time to time.
A week ago, they almost knocked off the Bulls, while they drew with the defending champion Chiefs last month.
The Force haven’t won in South Africa since 2011, and Foley wants to see his team break that five-match losing run.
“We’re very keen to try to win and potentially break that hoodoo,” Foley said.
“The Cheetahs are a dangerous team.
“There is no side that is an easybeat side. If your attitude is off and your execution is sloppy, then you’ll get beaten.”
The Force enter the game fresh following last week’s bye.
They’ve also got the stability factor on their side after naming an unchanged squad from the one that beat the Bulls 15-9 a fortnight ago.