Playmaker Bernard Foley says victory over the Pumas is non-negotiable as the weary Wallabies strive to restore pride and avoid a dubious place in history with a successful end to the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies were left physically and mentally battered by the Springboks before enduring a draining three-flight trek from Cape Town to Buenos Aires, but Foley insists there can no excuses for anything less than a bounce-back win in Mendoza on Saturday.
Defeat would hand the Pumas their first Rugby Championship victory in more than two years and 18 Tests of trying against Australia and fellow southern hemisphere heavyweights New Zealand and South Africa.
With rugby struggling to keep pace with the rival football codes in Australia, Foley knows the Wallabies are on a hiding to nothing and can't afford a slip-up against the unfancied but improving South Americans.
"With the environment back home, every time we play we're going to have to put on a show - get the result but also entertain," he said.
"So for us this week is vitally important, especially coming off the back of the disappointing last few minutes of last weekend."
The Wallabies trained for the first time in Buenos Aires on Tuesday following their 24-hour journey from South Africa, but Foley said the punishing schedule was all part of the deal.
"Every team has got to endure it. They do it when they come to us, so it's not anything that we can use as an excuse," he said.
"Some teams use it as a distraction and it's not until later in the week that you get into your rhythm.
"But having yesterday off and a couple of good nights of sleep, you can really start preparing as early as possible."
The Wallabies made 175 tackles - a hundred more than the bruising Boks - but Foley, ever confident and optimistic, even said that sapping workload was a "positive thing" ahead of what shapes as another torrid clash with the Pumas.
"Guys really dug deep and defended for each other and, as a side, that's very pleasing," he said.
"Disappointing in the end to let in 28 points but for the guys to show some resilience in that area with our backs to the wall, to grind it out, is something that we can take a lot of confidence from."
Australian goalkickers Mike Harris and Kurtley Beale have been targeted by fervent fans shining lasers in their eyes in past visits to Argentina, but Foley is unfazed by the prospect of similar distracting antics in Mendoza.
"They're very passionate; they can be hostile, but it's exciting," said the ice-cool No.10.
"I've only played here once before and that was my debut this time last year, so I've got very fond memories of the Argentinian crowd.
"Just the atmosphere, it's very electric and exciting and it's very unique to Argentina."
Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade has made five changes to his starting side, the most significant being the loss of seasoned back-rowers Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Jean Manuel Leguizamon.
Lobbe has returned to his French base to be with his wife and newborn child, while Leguizamon has succumbed to a calf strain.
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