The Bulls are gearing themselves up for one of their better Super Rugby Australasian tours of recent years when they go Down Under next week.

The Pretoria side have not travelled well over the past three seasons.

In 2012, Frans Ludeke's side won half of their overseas fixtures. The following year they only managed one win in four games, while last season they returned home winless after four defeats.

Captain Pierre Spies believes his troops are a different outfit to the previous three seasons.

"The change of personnel - we were struggling from so many injuries in the past few seasons - has been one of the major differences this season," Spies conceded from the Springbok training camp yesterday.

"This is also the first season where we have more experienced players. A guy like Handre Pollard is a year older. Burger Odendaal and Jesse Kriel have grown and gained experience, so have many others.

"We are a much different side to what we were in the past. We can surely improve this season."

If there was a season to turn around the woes of the past few seasons, it would be now.

The Bulls are in a better space, in terms of form as well as their log standing, than they have been in recent times ahead of their Australasian expedition.

"We have been chuffed with how we have been playing but it is still a work in progress. We seem to be gaining good momentum," Spies admitted.

Spies looked back at his side's season so far with a twinkle in his eye but also ruing the narrow defeats they have suffered four times in 11 matches.

The Bulls get to rest this weekend with a welcome bye before they depart for New Zealand on Sunday to prepare for their first match of the tour against the Blues next week.