Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe has foreshadowed a "ferocious battle" against the Bulls in Pretoria, in what he regards as one of the great challenges in world rugby.

The surging Perth-based team needs to win the game starting early Sunday morning AEST to close the gap on the Bulls and maintain their own finals challenge.

The Force enter the round in sixth spot, five points behind the second-placed Bulls.

Fresh from a record-breaking win over the Lions, the Force need a victory to maintain control of their finals destiny with three rounds remaining.

"Certainly it's a big game in terms of the position on the ladder," Sharpe said from South Africa.

"I think this competition won't be decided until the last weekend, but certainly if we can win this week it keeps our destiny more or less in our own hands.

"Playing the Bulls at home is one of the great challenges in world rugby and I know the guys have all been looking towards this game for quite some time.

"The parochial nature of the crowd is something that is a highlight of world rugby. Everywhere you go around town everyone is wearing the Bulls horns or painting themselves blue.

"The best way to deal with that is to keep the crowd as quiet as possible."

Sharpe felt his side was peaking at the right time, but regarded the clash at Loftus Versfeld as the stiffest test his side had faced in recent times.

"We started to play some good football, but this weekend is the biggest challenge we've had over the last month or so," Sharpe said.

"We need to control field position and they are certainly a team that do that well and when they get down to the opposition's 22 they take points away through a drop goal or a penalty at least, if not a try.

"Their breakdown has improved a great deal over the last few years so they are strong right across the paddock and it's going to be a very ferocious battle, that's for sure."

Sharpe said it was always a challenge going up against Bulls skipper and Springbok lock Victor Matfield, who rated the Force "a very dangerous team".

"They (the Force) like to play quick and they are masters of phase play and therefore the breakdowns are again going to be crucial," Matfield said.

The Force welcomed back Wallaby No.8 Richard Brown, but lock Sam Wykes was considered doubtful with a shoulder injury.

Tom Hockings will come off the bench if Wykes is ruled unfit.

The Force, who will be playing their 50th Super game, boast a far better winning percentage in South Africa than at home.

They have lost only twice in eight matches in South Africa, while winning just 10 out of 25 at home.

Sharpe suggested the Force had done well overseas because they tendered to arrive late in the week after doing much of their preparation at home.

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