Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell says the team has returned to ground zero ahead of its Super 14 rugby match against the Queensland Reds in Invercargill on Saturday.

The Highlanders are on a roll with three wins from their past three games, including victories over the defending champions, the Crusaders, and 2007 winners, the Bulls.

But Russell is adamant the Highlanders, refreshed after a bye week, have their feet firmly on the ground as they try to at least retain and possibly improve their present seventh place.

"We've gone back to ground zero and rebuilt for the week; we've gone back to the basic little things to get the guys' minds ticking over again," he said.

"We've got to put the Bulls match out of our minds. We've got a new challenge now - three games in New Zealand and then the tour, with two games in South Africa and one in Perth."

Russell is relishing his first taste of professional coaching and is encouraged at the improvements he has noted in the Highlanders.

"The expectations are quite high on us now. We know we can beat the Reds but we have to be clinical in everything we do.

"Few teams are good enough to let their guard down at this level and still win.

"It's only a few weeks ago that the Reds beat the competition leaders, the Sharks."

Russell is reasonably satisfied with the Highlanders' haul of 18 points from seven games, though still frustrated at the gut-wrenching narrow losses to the Brumbies, Hurricanes and Chiefs.

"But the bonus points have been more than handy. They've put us up there. The game against the Bulls was very critical, going into the bye week.

"There was a special feeling during and after that match. What we did in training during the week played out during the game and that's always very satisfying.

"I think the leaders in the backs and the forwards are cottoning on to what we're trying to do, week in and week out. It's all about attitude and preparation."

The Highlanders have reported back injury-free for training this week and they should have a full squad to choose from when the team is named on Thursday.

Few, if any changes are expected from the side which beat the Bulls 36-12 in Palmerston North.

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