Highlanders coach Glenn Moore admits next year is
a critical one for the franchise but believes, after two
years of building, he has the squad to take the next step.
Moore named 20 of last year's squad in his 28-strong team for 2010, saying continuity was a theme.
"It is a critical year for us and one for the whole franchise," Moore said.
"When we started off in 2008, it was almost a total rebuild. We had a plan in place and these things can take three or four years. We've had the bulk of the players and added one or two each year.
"This year, we've got the experience, with guys who have the ability at the breakdown and finishers out wide - and now we've also got four guys who are away with the All Blacks. In 2008, we had none."
Moore said getting those same players back was the key.
"To turn close losses into wins comes from belief in each other through playing games together and having to make decisions under pressure.
"To make those correct decisions, you have to play games. Last year, of the 13 backs selected, eight of them were new to the franchise. And they will be all the better for last year's experience."
It has been somewhat of a roller-coaster off-season for the southern franchise, with captain Jimmy Cowan and vice-captain Jamie Mackintosh tempted to leave for other franchises before deciding to stay in the south.
Moore said that was all history and all parties had talked and were looking forward to next year.
"Jamie actually rang me yesterday, although I was trying to get hold of him, and we talked about a number of things we can do to take the franchise forward."
Moore revealed he had spent a week in Melbourne in August with the Storm rugby league team and the Hawthorn Aussie Rules side.
That stint had give him fresh ideas and he said they may look at doing things differently next year.
That may include shorter and more intensive training sessions and a different procedure after games.
He confirmed Cowan would captain the side again next year.
Moore said he did not feel under any greater pressure, despite next year looming as a critical one for himself and the team.
Neither was he concerned about the pressure to perform, with the New Zealand Rugby Union underwriting the franchise for the next two years.
He said the performance of Southland in the Air New Zealand Cup, where it made the semifinals and won the Ranfurly Shield, would be a bonus for the Highlanders.
The franchise would get the input of a lot of players who knew how to handle pressure and could rely on each other when the chips were down.
Southland winger Matt Saunders was unlucky not to make the squad, Moore said, having worked hard all season, while Johnny Leota was a victim of the draw.
With the Highlanders playing the five South African sides early in the competition, it was felt it was better to carry one more loose forward than last year.
Winger Fetu'u Vainikolo was extremely lucky to make the team, but the Tongan winger knew that, and his season had been hindered by a hamstring injury, Moore said.
He had been a leading try scorer in 2008 and could get back to that form.
Mathew Berquist was selected in front of Daniel Bowden, who was drafted to the Crusaders, because the Hawkes Bay first five-eighth had an 87% goal-kicking record and had a good general kicking game.
Moore was expecting big things out of midfield backs Kenny Lynn and Jayden Hayward but warned there was a big difference between the Air New Zealand Cup and the Super 14.
He said Otago loose forward Paul Grant probably needed another year to mature, while he liked the look of Otago forward Hoani Matenga.
The Highlanders assemble in Dunedin on December 8.
One pre-season game, against the Chiefs at Carisbrook on January 23 has been arranged, and Moore hopes to organise two more before the Super 14 opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 13.