One Highlander was stinging a little more than his teammates after last weekend's debilitating Super 14 loss to the Bulls.

Lock James Ryan will seek atonement against the Cheetahs at Invercargill on Saturday, still frustrated he didn't produce the dominant performance he desired against Springboks lineout kingpin Victor Matfield.

Ryan had targetted a top personal display against Bulls skipper Matfield so was among the most downhearted after the Highlanders were sunk 13-22 at Carisbrook.

"It wasn't rocket science, what went wrong. At set piece we got dominated and it filtered through the rest of our performance really," Ryan told NZPA.

"Myself, I have to take a look at really, the lineout was a bit of an issue which was disappointing.

"If you want to make the top teams, you've got to play against the top players. It wasn't a terrible day at the office but it's something I just have to move forward from this week."

The Highlanders, with Ryan calling the shots, have produced one of the best-performed lineouts in this year's competition.

Ryan said for the first time they failed to handle pressure and became "flustered".

"It was hugely disappointing. The changing room wasn't a pretty place to be afterwards," the lanky red-head said.

"Rugby's a pretty volatile game and you don't have time to dwell on these things. It's good to get straight back on the horse and try to make up for it this weekend."

The Cheetahs would play the same way as the Bulls, Ryan predicted, "with the same mindset at the set piece and they'll try to bully you around the field".

The game will be another chance for Ryan to emerge from what he describes as a "logjam" race for the All Blacks locking berths.

A congested field that already comprised Ryan, Keith Robinson and reconditioned All Blacks Chris Jack, Ali Williams and Jason Eaton has been joined by in-form Blues captain Troy Flavell.

The Highlanders scrum will have more grunt and stability with coach Greg Cooper starting Anton Oliver and Carl Hayman for the first time this season.

Oliver and Hayman missed the first seven rounds because they were in the All Blacks 22-man reconditioning squad for the World Cup.

Hooker Oliver returned to action last week against the Bulls off the bench but prop Hayman pulled out after picking up an injury in training.

The loose forwards have also been reshuffled with Craig Newby switching from blindside to No 8, captain Josh Blackie from No 7 to No 6 and Alando Soakai coming in as the openside flanker.

No 8 Ezra Taylor, who was sinbinned in last week's match drops out of the squad entirely.

In the backs, Callum Bruce comes off the bench to start in place of Aaron Bancroft who moves back into the reserves.

The Highlanders will hope to improve on a steady record at Invercargill, where they have won just five of their 10 Super rugby games.

Their heaviest defeat was 18-49 to Orange Free State -- the old version of the Cheetahs -- in 1997.

That Free State team featured Rassie Erasmus, who is now coach of a Cheetahs team sitting one point ahead of the Highlanders. Both teams remain in semifinal contention, having won three of their seven games.

The Cheetahs play their next five games in Australasia, conscious they went winless on the same trip last year.