Last month, the Highlanders said they had agreed in principle to a game in Hong Kong on February 6 against Toulon, the winner of the European Challenge Cup.
The event was being organised by a French promoter and a few boxes had to be ticked before it got across the line.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said approval had been given by the various groups needed for the game to go ahead, and the franchise was excited to be heading to a new territory for the game.
''As far as I am concerned, it is a confirmed game. We have got all the approvals from all the parties who we have to: New Zealand Rugby, the French rugby authorities and World Rugby,'' he said.
''We will be taking the whole squad up there for a week. In the past, we have usually gone to Wanaka or Greenstone Valley for a week but instead we will be spending the week up in Hong Kong.''
The squad of 40 players and management team of 10 will be there for the week leading up to the game and will also do some promotional work for the franchise.
Clark said it was an exciting game to be part of.
''You've got the champion from the northern hemisphere taking on the champion from the southern hemisphere and it is a great opportunity for us.
''We have got a lot of supporters in Asia and a lot of commercial opportunities up there.''
The game was being organised by French promotional company SL Events and had advantages over similar games that have eventually been canned in previous years.
The game was on a weekend of the first round of the Six Nations, so the French club did not have a Top 14 game scheduled.
As well, all the Highlanders' international players would be back from the off-season break.
The break starts earlier this year because the international rugby schedule concludes at the start of November with the World Cup final. Northern tours usually go into December.
The fixture is also in Hong Kong, which is not too far to travel for both teams.
Previous proposed contests were scheduled for France and it was felt that was a very significant distance for the New Zealand teams.
The game would be broadcast and had been sold to European television.
Sky did not confirm yesterday whether it would broadcast the match in New Zealand.
The Highlanders will have two other games in their build-up to the Super rugby season.
They will be going from the slick, fast-paced life of Hong Kong to a paddock out the back of Gore within five days when they take on the Crusaders at Waimumu on February 11.
The side will end its pre-season with a match against the Waratahs in Queenstown on February 19.
Its first game of the season will be against the Blues at Eden Park on February 26.
Clark said the franchise was set to announce some player signings in the next few days.
Replacements are needed in the loose forwards after the departure of Nasi Manu and John Hardie.
