The Western Force remain winless after six rounds but skipper Nathan Sharpe believes the Super 14 team has turned the corner and will give the unbeaten Bulls a run for their money on Saturday night.

The Force led NSW 10-8 at halftime on Saturday night but two second-half penalties from Waratahs five-eighth Daniel Halangahu lifted the visitors to a 14-10 win despite the Perth-based franchise dominating possession and territory in the final 20 minutes.

Sharpe praised his side's dogged performance and said the Force would embrace the challenge of taking on the ladder-leading Bulls in Perth.

"The ultimate form of redemption is to win a game and we didn't do that," Sharpe said.

"But I think our level of performance went up and if we can build on that, then that's going to turn the season around for us.

"We've got a great opportunity next weekend with the Bulls at home.

"It's a big challenge and I know all the guys who had a bit of a taste tonight of playing some good attacking football and good defence are looking forward to it.

"The Bulls are on top of the table still, they've been the benchmark over the last year or two and it's a great opportunity for us to get them on their first trip away."

NSW's fourth win of the season and third on the trot lifted them into fourth spot on the table, while the Force remain rooted to last place with just one bonus point to show from five games.

The Waratahs scored the first try of the match when former Force winger Drew Mitchell ran on to Halangahu's perfectly-weighted grubber kick in the 16th minute.

But Scott Staniforth shot the home side into the lead when he intercepted a Berrick Barnes pass and sprinted 60m to the line.

It capped off a horror night for Barnes, who missed two penalties and a conversion attempt before being stripped of the kicking duties.

"He probably didn't play as well as we know he can in attack but that's a week by week thing, isn't it," NSW coach Chris Hickey said.

"But I thought he was a key tonight defensively for us, particularly marking up against (James) O'Connor, who's a threat when he's got the ball.

"So that side of his game was strong."

Force coach John Mitchell said the loss to the Waratahs was "tough to swallow".

"I think the boys did deserve to win that in the end," Mitchell said.

"They hung in there for a long time, got plenty of possession towards the end without getting conversion for that pressure.

"We gave ourselves a chance of winning more than once."

The Force will assess the fitness of flanker Sam Wykes (corked thigh) and Scott Staniforth (quad) during the week, while prop Matt Dunning (concussion) and hooker Pek Cowan (shoulder) are a chance to return against the Bulls.

The Waratahs return home to tackle the Blues and could be bolstered by the return of No.8 Wycliff Palu and prop Al Baxter from injury.

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