The Waratahs are hoping to use this week's match against the Rebels to build up their confidence ahead of a tough month of Super Rugby that could easily break their season.

The Waratahs have a match against the Rebels in Sydney this weekend but over the next month they have matches coming up against the Crusaders, Brumbies, Bulls and Stormers before starting a tour of South Africa. 

The Tahs picked up a win over the Force which they desperately needed as their next two matches at the very least are must win games.

Coach Michael Foley has commended his players for their 23-18 triumph over the Western Force in Perth but says they need to honest about their weaknesses if they are to keep their finals hopes alive.

"It's always easier when you come off a win to be tougher on yourself and I think that's a real challenge for us this week," Foley said.

"We've been tough on ourselves when we lost to the Force last time, we've been tough on ourselves when we lost to the Chiefs, I think we've got to be equally tough on ourselves now that we've won that game. Looking for that little bit of improvement each week is so important."

A concern for the Waratahs is that they allowed the Force to pile on 15 unanswered points after the break as they did almost the same thing the week before against the Chiefs.

"I think at the time you're probably seeing things happening and doing the best you can to make the observations and give the messages down to the field," Foley said.

"I think (captain Benn Robinson) had it under pretty good control. Definitely some of the penalties we gave away hurt us, led them to be in very strong positions that we gave them, rather than them having to fight for them."

Robinson said that the difference in the match against the Force was that they had belief which allowed them to claw back a lead and to hang on until the final whistle.

"Our last two weeks have been really tight as a team, or we've been really tight as a team," he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"If we have belief in what we do off the park then that translates directly into what we do on the park."

Foley said he was encouraged with the fitness of key forwards in particular Wycliff Palu and Tatafu Polota-Nau.

"Having (Palu) go through to the 60-plus minute mark for the first time was a real plus for us," he said.

"(Polota-Nau) went through to the 70th-minute mark, so some of the guys that have been carrying some niggles are gathering more and more each week.

"It shouldn't be too long before we have a couple of other players return as well. "

"So as much as you're getting the wins on the board, you're looking for those signs of improvement, (as well as) being easily able to differentiate between the things that are letting you down."

Palu's performance was pleasing for himself as he says he struggled with the travel to New Zealand for the Chiefs game in Hamilton but for the Force match the Waratahs' coaching and support staff were instrumental in getting him to the 60-minute mark

"All this (rehabilitation) stuff is kind of new for me and I've just got to take it week by week and learn from that experience," Palu said.

"The Chiefs game was an experience I learnt from. "

"We changed things up, and it kind of worked. So as long as I keep doing that, I should be right."