As the defensive coach, he needs to muster a plan to counter the potent Hurricanes attack in Saturday night's Super rugby final in Wellington.
While the Highlanders leaked more points (333) than the five other playoff teams during the season, they have only conceded three tries in their past three games.
It was no surprise to see the Blues manage just one try in the final regular-season game, but the way the Highlanders defended against the Chiefs and Waratahs in the two playoff games was nothing short of outstanding.
The Highlanders limited the Chiefs to a sole Brodie Retallick try in the semifinal qualifier in Dunedin, before restricting the defending champion Waratahs to one try in a comprehensive semifinal win in Sydney at the weekend.
''We have made a couple of changes this year in terms of our structures,'' McLeod said.
''We had to bed that down earlier in the season and had to get some real understanding around that. But it's pleasing to see that it's coming to fruition against quality sides towards the end of the competition.''
One thing that has stood out defensively in the two intense playoff wins has been the Highlanders' line speed.
Whether or not they opt for a different approach against the Hurricanes remains to be seen, but McLeod said the team had a ''big day'' training and working on strategy on Tuesday.
The Hurricanes, who finished top of the competition ladder with 14 wins and two losses, spanked the Highlanders 56-20 in Napier last month, though the Highlanders were missing All Blacks Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa.
The Hurricanes also won the first match between the sides, 20-13, in Dunedin in March.
''I think everyone saw the last time we played them, they have got threats across the park,'' McLeod said.
''You give them too much space and they will make the most of that with their running, offloading and continuity play. So we need to be able to shut that all down.''
McLeod, a former All Black, Waikato and Chiefs midfielder, is in his third year with the Highlanders.
After a dreadful 2013 season, in which the Highlanders won just three games and finished second from bottom, there was talk of McLeod being one and done.
However, he was retained and the Highlanders improved drastically last year - making the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Now, the side is a win away from winning its first Super rugby title.
''It's been the most enjoyable year,'' McLeod said.
''We have made a number of changes post-2013 in our environment, and a lot of that was due to feedback from the players. We've made those changes and put them into place and we've just tried to get that better each week the last two years.
''It's getting somewhere. You've seen the benefit of that.''
Asked if the team was treating this week like any other week, McLeod said his son asked him the same question.
''That's exactly what we need to do,'' he said.
''We've been a team that's focused on preparation and doing that outstanding all week and just getting prepared to play. So we don't need to change anything.
''If anything, we just need to keep the emotion in check a little bit.''
McLeod said the players, who were given yesterday off, were still a bit sore and tired on Tuesday, but he expected them to return to work ''humming'' today.
The team leaves for Wellington tomorrow.
