After last round matching the might of Australia's best pack, the Queensland Reds, the Melbourne Rebels know they will have to lift a notch against Super Rugby's defending champion Bulls.

Despite a losing 33-18 scoreline, the Rebels forwards held their own against Queensland, who top the Australian conference.

But the Bulls at home at Loftus Versfeld present an even more formidable challenge.

Bookmakers have given Super Rugby's new boys almost no chance, paying $15 for a win.

Veteran prop Greg Somerville acknowledged the massive task but said the Rebels were looking forward to it.

"If they win all their games they can still make the top of the conference in South Africa so they've got everything to play for at the moment," he said.

"When you've faced a Bulls team that had a challenge like that, they've risen to it and performed pretty well.

"It's going to be a big challenge for us, but that's all part of it.

"For us it's about building on what we've been doing and (to) win a couple more games."

The former All Black said the performance at the breakdown and at the set piece against the Reds had given them confidence.

"We did some things required from us well so we can take some heart from that, we did play together as an eight a lot better and we're a lot more consistent throughout the game.

"We're looking to do it again against the Bulls who are pretty big and full of international players and they do try to win their games through their forwards."

Bulls inspirational lock and skipper Victor Matfield will start from the bench after overcoming a neck injury and Danie Rossouw will start in the second row, which Somerville thought would actually boost the Bulls' pack.

"Victor's probably the best lineout jumper in the world so him not starting may make it a little bit easier for us ... but Danie Rossouw will give them something extra in the scrum."

The match, starting on Sunday at 1.05am AEST, is the first of two in South Africa as the Rebels next take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Mercurial English five-eighth Danny Cipriani was left behind for disciplinary reasons and his future in Melbourne remains in huge doubt.

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