Knockout blow needed in Tahs' Super test

The Waratahs will need to defy recent history if they're to knock off the Brumbies in round three of the Super Rugby Pacific at GIO Stadium on Saturday night.

The Tahs haven't won in Canberra since 2018 and it's been rough going in the ACT since, with last year's 61-10 mauling in round two a real low point of their brutal winless campaign.

But after knocking off Fijian Drua and having plenty of opportunity to beat the Reds last weekend, NSW coach Darren Coleman encouraged his players to swing for the fences.

"You've got to throw punches. You can't go there expecting to outbox them for 15 rounds, and finish on a points decision," he said.

"If they get into the structured aspects of their game, you've got to really be on point.

"When we do get a chance we're going to try and score and score quickly, and then knock them out that way as opposed to going jab for jab with them."

The Tahs' pack took a decent step forward in a 20-16 loss to the Reds, but against the Brumbies' dominant set piece will need to lift once again.

"(Saturday night) is going to be our biggest test around set piece, and the boys are really excited for that," captain Jake Gordon said.

"It's been spoken about all week - a really dominant set piece which they pride themselves on, a strong scrum and a really strong maul too.

"We've shown we can nullify that strength."

Riding consecutive wins against Western Force and Fijian Drua, the Brumbies enter full of confidence but captain Allan Alaalatoa cautioned his side to be wary of the Tahs.

"They've come a long way since last year, a large part of that comes down to having their leader there in Jake Gordon," he said.

"They're a dangerous side, a team that prides themselves on physicality ... we've gotta make