The Western Force’s finals destiny is back in their own hands, but lock Nathan Sharpe is warning his teammates not to become overly satisfied by last week’s Super Rugby win over Queensland.
The Force ran in five tries to three in the 45-19 romp, lifting them to 11th overall on the table and back in the race to win the Australian conference.
The Brumbies head the Australian conference on 18 points, followed by the Reds (13), NSW Waratahs (13), Force (12) and Melbourne Rebels (10).
Queensland, NSW and the Force are yet to have a bye and the automatic four points that goes with it, meaning the table is effectively tighter than how it appears.
The next month looms as a make-or-break period for the Force, who face tough home games against the Chiefs, Waratahs and Stormers.
Sharpe said the team couldn’t afford to get caught up in the hype surrounding their win over the injury-hit Reds, especially with the fourth-placed Chiefs awaiting this Friday night.
“We’re conscious one game doesn’t make a season,” Sharpe said on Tuesday.
“This period of time for us is really important.
“We were on the road for four of the first five weeks.
“We’ve been eyeing off this little period at home quite fondly since … the draw came out.
“Certainly at the end of the season, you don’t want to be in that position where you say ‘what if?’.
“But the good thing about it is there’s plenty of games to go and that allows us to remain in control of our own destiny.”
The Force put in their most fluid performance of the season against the Reds, with their make-shift backline clicking well despite an early ankle injury to five-eighth James Stannard.
Stannard could be sidelined for more than a month with the injury, leaving 21-year-old Ben Seymour or short-term signing David Harvey to take on the chief playmaker’s role.
Fullback Cameron Shepherd, Pat Dellit and Napolioni Nalaga will attempt to prove their fitness at training this week, while Former Waratahs and Brumbies scrumhalf Josh Holmes will be included in the match-day squad after signing on for the rest of the season.
The Chiefs have won four of their five games this season, and Sharpe said the Force would have to keep a close watch on star centre Sonny Bill Williams.