Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe admits the club's finals destiny is no longer in their own hands after suffering a 22-10 Super 14 loss to the Sharks in Perth on Saturday night.

The Force conceded three second-half tries on the way to their third loss of the season, a result that leaves them five points adrift of the top four with a bye to come in round seven.

"We've probably lost a bit of control over our own destiny but we are still going to put our hands up each week," Sharpe said.

"I tell you what, if we win the rest of our games we'll be in the finals.

"Because there's so many points on offer each week it doesn't take long for a points swing to come through.

"Obviously it makes it a little bit more difficult and sometimes results are taken out of your hands."

The Force were the walking wounded after the match, with star backs James O'Connor (finger), Matt Giteau (corked knee) and Drew Mitchell (ankle) all nursing injuries.

O'Connor, who also copped a heavy knock to the head in the first half, will have an X-Ray on his right hand to determine whether he had fractured a finger.

"It might be a little fracture but it doesn't feel too bad," O'Connor said.

"There should be a brace or something I can wear."

Despite the loss, Force coach John Mitchell praised his charges for their effort against the Sharks.

The Force dominated possession and territory, but breakaway tries to wingers JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane, and a third to scrumhalf Rory Kockott consigned the Force to their 13th loss in 22 appearances at Subiaco Oval.

Force winger Scott Staniforth, making his first start of the season, notched a consolation try seven minutes from time.

"The effort was huge," Mitchell said.

"I guess it's pretty hard coming off a football field when you've actually dominated territory and possession.

"We just didn't get conversion out of that possession.

"We had them in all sorts of trouble in the first half.

"It's unfortunate that the team that plays all the football doesn't win the match, that's the hardest thing to swallow.

"There were some fantastic positives tonight.

"The play was quite exceptional, they were on the ropes and unfortunately they scrambled and held on.

"It was an extremely brutal match and no one can question the effort and the way we tried to play."

Sharpe said the Force would use the bye week to analyse their season to date ahead of a must-win round eight clash with the Reds in Perth.

"The good thing about it (the performance against the Sharks) is it was probably in parts some of the best football we played all year and we'll take that into the next game," Sharpe said.

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