The side beat the Crusaders 29-26 in Timaru on Saturday, after trailing 12-0 early in the contest.
The match was marred by a serious injury to Crusaders halfback Willi Heinz, who broke his leg near the end of the second quarter.
Highlanders winger Ryan Tongia cut inside Heinz and a loud crack could then be heard, with Heinz prone on the ground with his leg flapping.
Support staff rushed to his aid and he was carried off to a waiting ambulance.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder later confirmed Heinz appeared to have broken his leg and would miss the rest of the season.
The match was a rugged affair at times, and both defences stood flat and did not give the attack much room to move.
The Highlanders recycled the ball well and scrambled in defence.
Coach Jamie Joseph was pleased with the effort of his team in the hot conditions.
''It was a typical pre-season match, really. There was a lot of mistakes, a lot of penalties, so there are plenty of things to work on,'' he said.
''I thought all our new players contributed well and had some positive moments there. It was not a perfect performance by either team and that is pleasing for a coach as you've got something to work on.
''In pre-season, everyone is keen so I hope they are scrambling [on defence] in round seven or eight.''
He praised wingers Tongia and Waisake Naholo, centre Jason Emery and the performance of the tight five, which worked hard all game.
Lock Tom Franklin left the game in the first quarter but Joseph said he picked up a blow to the thigh and it was not expected to put him out for any length of time. There were no other injuries.
The Highlanders strung some nice phases together. At times its scrum was good, other times average, while its lineout was mostly accurate. It won a couple of turnovers at the breakdown. The Crusaders were heavily penalised.
The Highlanders made a poor start, halfback Scott Eade throwing a poor pass from the base of the scrum, which was intercepted by opponent Mitchell Drummond, who ran 50m to score.
Crusaders fullback Johnny McNicholl then got on a good ball near the line and ran through to score.
The Highlanders came back in the second quarter with John Hardie scoring from a drive near the line and Tongia getting on the end of a Lima Sopoaga cross kick.
Eade then threw a nice dummy to go over under the posts to give his side the lead but skipper for the day Elliot Dixon and Tongia with his second put the Highlanders well ahead.
Tongia blew a third try near the end when he dropped a ball 30m out with the line open.
Blackadder said after the game he was happy with the performance but disappointed in his side's discipline and some reads on defence.
The Highlanders' next two pre-season games are in Australia, taking on the Brumbies in Wagga Wagga on Saturday and the Rebels in Melbourne on February 5.
Highlanders v Crusaders
The Scores
Highlanders 29
Ryan Tongia 2, John Hardie, Scott Eade, Elliot Dixon tries; Hayden Parker 2 con
Crusaders 26
Mitchell Drummond, Johnny McNicholl, Reed Prinsep, Jordan Taufua tries; Richie Mo'unga 2 con, Broc Hooper con
Halftime: 12-10 Crusaders
Crowd: 3000
