Waratahs centre Izaia Perese has offered a blunt assessment of his own form by declaring he needs to lift his game in a must-win match against the Chiefs following a below-par start to the year.

Perese was one of the Waratahs’ most potent players last year but had his international season cruelled by a knee injury during the England series in July.

It would be unfair to single out Perese for the Waratahs’ three losses from four matches to begin the Super Rugby Pacific season, but the 25-year-old admitted on Tuesday he didn’t feel he was living up to the high standards he sets himself.

The key, Perese believes, is remaining calm and playing a more instinctive brand of rugby, rather than complicating his play.

As a midfielder whose job is to get over the advantage line, that will be music to the ears of Waratahs coach Darren Coleman.

“I just need to pull my finger out to be honest,” Perese saidahead of Friday’s match at Allianz Stadium. “I definitely haven’t hit where I want to be. I just need to be more patient with myself and hit the ground running. It’s been a slow start, but I feel like it’ll come in games.

“Hopefully I can find my feet. I know it’s been four games and people are expecting a [big] performance but I feel like over the last four games I’ve been too tough on myself. I need to step back, think less, and just play more instinctive footy. It’s backing my instincts and staying cool headed.”

In round one, 25,076 fans made their way to Allianz Stadium to watch the Waratahs suffer a 31-25 loss to the Brumbies.