Wycliff Palu says NSW are prepared to win ugly if that’s what it takes to avoid their worst-ever start to a Super Rugby season against the Sharks at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

The Waratahs were booed from the field after their embarrassing loss to the Western Force last week and are a team under siege from fans who demand to see exciting rugby.

Making a timely return from hamstring trouble to take on the physically imposing Sharks, giant No.8 Palu says the team appreciates the passion of their supporters, but this week is all about getting a result.

“We’ve got to start somewhere and a win’s a win,” said Palu.

“I think we start to get the ball rolling again and start putting our season back on track.

“Obviously you don’t like it (the booing), but it shows how much the fans care and that’s the only way they probably know how to voice their opinion.

“They’re not in our team sanctum and stuff like that, so they’re just showing they … want us to do well as much as we want to do well.”

Despite having just one win for the season and facing the prospect of a third successive home loss to start 2012, Palu says he hasn’t got the sense the Waratahs are feeling the pressure this week at training.

However, he does concede the intensity has risen as they prepare to take on the in-form Sharks, who surged home to beat defending premiers Queensland last week in Durban.

Palu insisted with a smile that he wasn’t part of the booing at Allianz last Saturday, but could see plenty NSW needs to improve on.

“Looking back on the tape I think the boys were a bit down. As a team we didn’t communicate well, we felt we were a bit one-out and we’ve talked about that as a team – trying to communicate,” he said.

“The boys have trained pretty intense … I’ve seen it’s picked up a bit.

“We try to make (training) as normal as possible, but it’s hard to do that coming off a loss like that.”

The Waratahs have signalled their intentions by picking a five-two forward dominated bench, including giant brothers Sitaleki and Lopeti Timani combining for their first-ever match together.

Coach Michael Foley wants his team to maintain a constant physical presence from start to finish up against the likes of bruising hooker Bismarck du Plessis, and has also opted for Brendan McKibbin to make his starting debut as a replacement for Sarel Pretorius at No.9.

Palu returns to the back of the scrum and is looking to provide some leadership assistance to first-time captain Benn Robinson.

“Hopefully I’ll just provide a bit of energy and be a calming influence on the boys. Being the older guy in the team, I’m just trying to relax everyone,” he said.