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Durban - Sharks coach Robert du Preez hopes that his side's narrow victory over the Kings on Saturday will serve as a wake-up call.
The Sharks were a Lionel Cronje penalty away from a shocking loss to the Port Elizabeth-based franchise, but when the Kings flyhalf missed a long-range effort in the 78th minute, the Sharks limped through to a 19-17 win.
Having dismantled the Waratahs a week earlier, it was a disappointing showing from Du Preez's men, who looked nothing like a side capable of mounting a serious challenge in this year's competition.
"We were obviously hoping for the win so I'm happy with the win. It was messy. We're definitely not happy with the way we played," Du Preez said after the match.
"We did everything that we shouldn't have done.
"We had a good week of practice. The Kings are a good rugby team and you should never underestimate your opposition."
Du Preez said that, to a degree, his side may have underestimated their opponents.
They must now turn their attention to the Cheetahs and another South African derby in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
"I hope this is a big wake-up call because it was really disappointing," Du Preez added.
"We played at home with quite a big crowd out there and that was the disappointment, that we disappointed our fans."
