The franchise announced yesterday it had agreed in principle to a game in Hong Kong against French club Toulon on February 6.
It is effectively a clash of the top two club sides in the world.
The Highlanders won the Super rugby title last month, and Toulon won the European Cup in May.
Similar matches have been proposed in the past - Toulon tried to play the Chiefs in 2013 and 2014 - but come to nothing because of logistical problems.
But Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said the Hong Kong proposal had some distinct advantages.
The international playing window is much shorter this year because of the World Cup.
It finishes at the end of October, while the usual international calendar has end-of-year tours which can go into December.
That means players such as All Blacks and Highlanders Ben Smith and Aaron Smith can start their off-season break earlier and come back into camp earlier, and be available for the game in Hong Kong.
The previous proposed games were to be played in France, a lot further for a New Zealand side to travel than Hong Kong.
The date is a rest week for French clubs, as the Six Nations tournament kicks off.
Mr Clark said there were still plenty of issues to work through and he would not be drawn on how confident he was the match would go ahead.
''We have to talk to New Zealand Rugby and the players' association, and the French club has to go through the same process,'' he said.
''We have had some initial discussions with them [NZR and players' association] and they have been pretty positive.
''There are still a number of issues to be resolved and we will know where we stand in early November,'' Clark said.
French promoter SL Events approached the Highlanders about the match and is organising the game.
The French group, led by former French player Philippe Spanghero, is in effect running the whole game, from selling sponsorship and tickets to arranging broadcast rights.
Clark said a squad of 50 - 40 players plus 10 in the management team - would go to Hong Kong for a week before the game.
The squad would then return home to play the Crusaders at Waimumu, outside Gore, and the Waratahs, in Queenstown, in other pre-season matches.
Clark said the Hong Kong game was lucrative both on and off the field for the franchise.
''It is a hell of a lot more profitable than staying in New Zealand. Our players and the coaching staff get the novelty of playing in a game like this. And for our sponsors, it can be a good way for increased exposure.''
Broadcasting rights had been sold, he said, but he was unsure whether the match would be shown in New Zealand.
