Wellington, March 12 NZPA - The Highlanders go into Sunday's Super 14 rugby match against the Bulls at Pretoria rated as the massive underdogs.

Backing popular opinion, the TAB figure the southerners are worth $8 for the win compared to the Bulls' $1.05.

As well, the Bulls have not lost their last 13 matches at their Loftus Versfeld stronghold and the Highlanders have had a disrupted buildup this week having lost combative skipper Jimmy Cowan to injury.

They will also be without flanker Adam Thomson and first five-eighth Michael Hobbs who have been suspended for a late night out after last weekend's loss 0-33 loss to the Stormers.

Steven Setephano comes in for Thomson while Matt Berquist replaces an in-form Hobbs.

But assistant coach Peter Russel feels that morale in the team has recovered well after the poor start to the week.

"It was a pretty tough at start of the week, lot of whispers going round (about Hobbs and Thomson) but at the end of the day, team protocols were broken.

"We have moved on from there and now the starting 22 have been named, they are raring to go.

"We had a pretty good training session today and everyone's come away pretty pleased with the outcomes and how we want to play the Bulls," Russell said.

They had allowed the Stormers to come at them, had lost any momentum they created and were on the defensive all day.

Being forced to play catch-up rugby last week was disappointing, Russell said.

The team's priorities this week had been to put things right.

Russell felt the Highlanders would lose little with Berquist running the backline instead of Hobbs.

With Berquist at the helm, the Highlanders memorably beat the Bulls 36-12 at Palmerston North last year.

Berquist starred with his tactical kicking and scored a total of 14 points from a try, a penalty and three conversions.

"Matt's a seasoned campaigner and I don't think we will lose too much in terms of direction around the paddock," Russell said.

How the Highlanders made use of territory on Sunday was going to be the key and Russell indicated Berquist will be asked to pin the Bulls down in their half of the field as he did last year with some accurate tactical kicking.