Argentina's Jaguares are targeting a playoff place in their debut Super Rugby season in the expanded tournament which kicks off this Friday.

The Buenos Aires-based team are, along with the Japan-based Sunwolves, new to the annual competition and will play in the South African conference, where they begin their campaign in Bloemfontein on Friday against the Cheetahs.

"We know we have a very good squad but on the other hand we realise it's our first year in the competition and we'll have to face many new things," Perez told Reuters.

"We are very proud that many experts consider us as a potentially strong force in Super Rugby but we must be cognisant of our inexperience and having to play at a much higher level than we are used to, week in and week out. We have to be cautious.

"Reaching the playoffs will be a fantastic outcome for us," said the 50-year-old former Argentina international, who served as one of the country's assistant coaches under Daniel Hourcade at last year's Rugby World Cup.

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The involvement of Jaguares in Super Rugby comes four years after Argentina first competed in the Rugby Championship with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

"We are now going to have a regular diet of a high level of rugby throughout the year," Perez said.

"The Rugby Championship has already offered us the opportunity to realise what we need to do to improve and as a result we've seen more and more players of an international profile come through."

Although it was first announced two years ago that Argentina would be awarded a Super Rugby franchise in 2016, the Jaguares were only unveiled in mid-December, 72 days before their first match.

The Jaguares, who will host their home matches at Velez Sarsfield in the Argentine capital, have been preparing in South Africa since the start of the month.

Their 34-man squad is dominated by Argentina internationals, including Rugby World Cup players Agustin Creevy, Nicolas Sanchez, Facundo Isa and Santiago Cordero.