The Western Force have a chip on their shoulder, and winger Nick Cummins says there's only one way to fix it - with victory against the Melbourne Rebels.
A three-game Super Rugby losing streak has left the Force's finals hopes on thin ice already, making Friday night's clash with the Rebels in Perth a crunch affair.
The Force produced limp performances in losses to the Reds and Hurricanes, but they regained some of their fighting spirit in last week's 27-15 defeat to the Brumbies.
Cummins, who scored a try against the Brumbies, said coach Michael Foley has worked hard this week to fix the mindset of the group.
"It's the hardest part - working the scone out," Cummins said.
"(Foley) has done it now. He's spun it around with a couple of meetings and a bit of bonding.
"The boys feel like they want to do it for each other. Building that feeling and thought is what will make the difference.
"The boys here have a bit of a chip (on their shoulder) now, and they want to have a crack at (the Rebels) and regain that respect."
At 1-3, things aren't looking great for the Force. And it could look even bleaker after they take on the Bulls and Sharks in South Africa later this month.
But Cummins is confident they can turn things around.
"It's a long season, things can turn around pretty rapidly and that's happened in the past for us," Cummins said.
"Sometimes teams go through those waves where they might lose a couple and then they win five in a row like we did last year.
"That's quite normal. I'm confident in us, I don't think we're too worried."
Cummins' appearance at nib Stadium on Friday night will be his first match back in Perth since returning from Japan last month.
Japanese journalists struggled to interpret some of Cummins' trademark sayings, and the 27-year-old joked that even some of his Force teammates are finding it hard to understand him.
"The South African blokes (in our team) think they've learned English, but they haven't learned Australian," Cummins said with a smile.
"So they ask me what the hell I'm talking about. Anyway, that's another story."
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