Melbourne Rebels' second consecutive boilover has reduced the Australian conference battle to a race in two between traditional rivals Queensland and NSW even before Super Rugby's halftime hooter.

The fledgling Rebels, embarrassed 53-3 by the Reds just a fortnight ago and without a certain Wallabies World Cup starter, have remarkably rocketed to third in the national standings but realistically admit they have no finals aspirations.

No sooner had he celebrated a spirited 26-25 comeback win over the Western Force in Perth on Saturday night before captain Stirling Mortlock scoffed at suggestions his team could make the six-team play-offs.

Mortlock, one of just four Rebels viewed as fringe World Cup outsiders for Australia, shook his head and uttered "negative" even though an upcoming round-eight bye will propel them closer to the top six.

Melbourne sit ninth overall on 15 points with a 3-4 record, while the second-placed Reds (26) and Waratahs (22), in fifth, have stolen the march in the local conference seven rounds into the expanded 18-week competition.

Rebels coach Rod Macqueen stressed his injury-hit team's goal remained being competitive and improving each week.

"If we do that chances are we'll play better but we certainly don't have any aspirations or are talking about making semi-finals or anything like that," Macqueen said.

Improvements must start with their start.

For a second straight match, the Rebels were blown away early, trailing 12-0 after 10 minutes against the Force following their 17-0 deficit to the Hurricanes in the first quarter-hour.

But their gritty and creative fightbacks have been something to behold.

The efforts have shamed the predictable play of established rivals the Brumbies (13), on a record-equalling five-match losing streak, and composure of the Force (12) - teams which each boast a handful of Wallabies squad members.

"It's probably becoming a little bit what the team's about," said Macqueen.

"They're starting now to believe in themselves a bit more and that's paramount to having a good side."

Queensland showed their growing maturity by pegging back an 11-0 deficit and overcoming early yellow cards to James Slipper and captain James Horwill to overrun the Lions 30-25 in Johannesburg for a fourth straight win.

But the Reds' season faces its first real moment of truth next weekend when they face the pace-setting Stormers (29) in Cape Town.

The unbeaten Stormers, who have conceded just four tries collectively in their six wins, were again at their defensive best to outmuscle the Sharks 16-6 in Durban.

While the Reds have a testing three-week block against the Stormers, defending champion Bulls and NSW, the Waratahs similarly face a searching period against the Force, fourth-placed Blues and Queensland - all on the road.

"That's a pretty tough run (for both) with those three in a row," said Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, whose side were far from convincing in holding off the Chiefs 23-16.

The Blues (25) edged closer to the Crusaders (26) in top spot in New Zealand with a bonus-point 29-22 win over the Cheetahs in Whangarei while the unfancied Highlanders (21) remained strongly in the hunt with their 26-20 Invercargill triumph over the Brumbies.

The Bulls (also on 21) returned to the top six by overpowering the Hurricanes 26-14 in Napier.

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