Reds captain James Horwill concedes that his team might be battered and bruised after one of their biggest defeats in recent years but he insists they are not suddenly a bad team.

The injury ravaged Reds were smashed 61-8 by the Bulls last week but captain Horwill remained confident ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby match with the Western Force in Perth.

Last season the Reds were hit by injury early in the season as well but they produced new stars and with the help of five eighth Quade Cooper's brilliance they won the title.

Now with Cooper out, as well as a host of other back-line stars the Reds have struggled to compete at anything like the level they played.

The Reds will be playing Western Force at 10.40pm this Saturday.

Meanwhile, in the lone Super rugby game this Friday, the Highlanders will play the Rebels at 6.35pm.

Story by: Akuila Cama