The resurgent NSW Waratahs have set their sights on becoming a "dominant force" in Super Rugby Pacific just one season after collecting the dreaded wooden spoon.
The Waratahs pack overpowered the Western Force in a 34-10 win in Sydney on Saturday night, with two-try star Max Jorgensen applying the classy polish.
Under new coach Dan McKellar – who has the luxury of a Melbourne Rebels bolstered squad – the Waratahs are 3-0 and second on the ladder despite having already had a bye week.
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They have already won more games than last year's injury-ravaged NSW squad that finished 2-12.
"The exciting thing is the potential we have in this team to be a dominant force," Waratahs prop Angus Bell told Stan Sport.
"And trying to be a dominant force is an exciting prospect. Look, we're nowhere near where we need to be. We need to be better…
Angus Bell of the Waratahs runs with the ball. Getty
"We talked a lot about taking off the shackles. We feel like we've been sort of caged in the past few weeks. Yeah, we've got some good wins and we've won ugly, but tonight we really felt like we played with that expansive nature and we were physical up front.
"Night and day to where we were last week, so it's exciting times."
The Waratahs and Queensland Reds are the only unbeaten teams in the competition.
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The 2-0 Reds play the Crusaders in Christchurch on Sunday to complete round four.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii remains sidelined with a toe injury but fellow Wallabies star Jorgensen is more than making up for his absence.
The 20-year-old beat Dylan Pietsch for his first try, intercepted Nick Champion de Crespigny for his second and had a hat-trick ruled out for a forward pass.
Max Jorgensen of the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium. Getty
Jorgensen also helped set up Darby Lancaster for his first try in Waratahs sky blue.
"Jorgo's unbelievable, mate. We always knew he was going to be unbelievable," Bell said.
"When you look up and you see he's scored an intercept try in the corner – you've just got your head up out of a scrum and you just go, 'oh wow.' It's awesome, Jorgo's a freak. His individual brilliance is awesome having on our team…
"A super humble bloke, comes from a great family as we all know, and he just goes about his work… full credit to Max, he works bloody hard on his craft, so it's awesome."
The game was ugly at times but the no-nonsense McKellar won't lose a lick of sleep over that.
After two close wins, he was able to breathe just a little easier on Saturday.
"We were pretty relentless there and that was really pleasing," McKellar, who is in the running to replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach, told Stan Sport.
"That's what you expect and we're trying to drive that mindset of consistency and good habits always."
The Waratahs will play the Reds in Brisbane in a mouthwatering contest next Saturday.
Langi Gleeson of the Waratahs sits on the bench. Getty
McKellar, a former Queensland prop, is sweating on the fitness of Suaalii, Langi Gleeson and Jake Gordon.
"I don't think there's anything major," he said.
"Hopefully they recover well, bounce back and it's nothing that keeps them out of what will be a good game… he (Suaalii) wants to get out there and show people what he can do, so it'll be sooner rather than later…
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar talks to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at Allianz Stadium. Getty
"Rugby, we're starting to build some momentum as a game and some positivity and people are talking about Super Rugby again.
"And you want to have that rivalry, don't you, Queensland vs New South Wales.
"People want to get excited about it and hopefully, next week they do."
Waratahs players celebrate victory. Getty
Meanwhile, the Force suffered a heartbreaking, last-minute 26-21 loss to the reigning champion Waratahs in round two of the Super Rugby Women's season.
The Force looked to be heading for a historic first win over the Waratahs in Sydney, leading by two points with 60 seconds remaining, but they could not hold out the home side after putting in a huge defensive effort.
Adiana Talakai scored the winning try at the end of a rolling maul.