This weekend the Highlanders will take on the Blues at Eden Park in a battle of the two lowest teams on the New Zealand conference ladder.
The Highlanders will head into the match still looking for their first win of the season following last week's heart-breaking one point loss to the Reds.
The Blues are not doing all that well themselves. After starting the season with impressive wins over the Hurricanes and Crusaders they have now lost their last three matches to slip down to ninth on the overall Super Rugby table.
The Highlanders will be forced into a few changes this week with Jamie Mackintosh likely to start in place of the injured Tony Woodcock and newly recruited Mose Tuiali'i expected to start in the number 8 jersey.
The signing of Tuiali'i, who has been playing in Japan, should add strength to the loose forward unit which has been underperforming so far this season.
It's no secret that the Highlanders forwards need to muscle up and prevent the soft tries that have been scored in the last few weeks.
The team has the talent to win, especially in the backline which is littered with All Blacks, but in order for them to flourish they need the ball in hand.
Over the past five weeks the team has shown what it's are capable of, but just can't seem to put the package together for the full 80 minutes.
This match against the Blues will be a close encounter of two teams desperate to get their seasons on track.
Odds will be on the Blues at home, but the Highlanders will travel to Eden Park with good memories after last season's seven point victory up there.
If the Highlanders can manage to retain the ball for longer periods of time and cut down the schoolboy errors we could see them chalk up win number one for the season.
That would come as a huge relief for coach Jamie Joseph - and the fans.
- By Cam Gordon
