The Bulls head to Knowsley Road tonight for the start of Super League VIII without flying winger Tevita Vaikona.

The Tongan try-scoring sensation had been rated 50/50 for the Grand Final rematch but just missed out because of his troublesome Achilles.

"Of course it is frustrating," said Vaikona, who needed surgery on his heel immediately after last year's 19-18 loss to St Helens at Old Trafford.

"But you have to look at the bigger picture. The Super League is not just about St Helens, it is 28 games and it is not worth coming back for one match and then missing two others.

"You have to be realistic and you have to be sensible and if they tell me I am not ready, then it is not worth risking it.

"There will be other games, and other games against St Helens, and I would like to play in them but only when I am fit enough to do so."

With Vaikona an 11th-hour casualty, and full back Michael Withers still not back from his off-season surgery, it will be the same Bulls team who defeated Warrington in the Challenge Cup that will take on Ian Millward's men tonight. Great Britain international Karl Pratt is expected to fill in on the right wing once more.

The match is expected to be a sell-out and coach Brian Noble knows it will be a tough encounter.

"I would rather they had won against Sydney," revealed Noble, who watched last week's 38-0 World Club Challenge capitulation by the Saints.

"I think they played better than a lot of people are saying, but by losing they will come back with something to prove.

"Last week's defeat by the Sydney Roosters was the worst possible result for us because Saints will be smarting from it but there will be ups and downs for both teams and we are all at the starting gate and looking for the two points.

"It is a tough game and a tough ask of the players but we are up for it."