The Highlanders should enjoy their short break back at home after what has been a tough and, at times, torturous three weeks.
The side broke up and went their separate ways for the holiday season after ending their pre-Christmas training with a camp at the Catlins.
Assistant coach Tony Brown said the team had had a really solid three weeks.
"The boys have put a lot of work into their bodies and getting stronger and fitter. We've been working hard together,'' Brown said.
"The guys know it is a pretty short pre-season and, if they put in a lot of hard work now, they will be able to perform in the later stages of the Super rugby competition.''
Brown said there was not a lot of talk about defending the title the side won last season.
"The talk is ... more about what really worked well to get us there and into the playoffs. All the little things we did along the way to get us the championship. Just to do those a little bit better.
"I'm pretty sure we won't be able to sneak in this year and win it. We'll be the top side in the competition which everyone wants to knock off.''
Newly announced co-captain Shane Christie has broken his finger and has his hand in plaster but Brown said Christie was in good nick, probably the side's fittest forward, and should be right for the first pre-season game.
That game is scheduled in Hong Kong against Racing 92 on February 6 and Brown said it was exciting for the team to head to a new destination.
The entire squad and coaching staff are heading for Hong Kong a few days before the match.
Brown said the camp at Tautuku Catlins was great and the coaches saw how the players reacted when put under pressure.
The team kicked off the camp with a farming challenge including tractor pulling and sheep drafting.
A full-day event, in the hot sun of Monday, had four teams carrying out various tasks over a period of just under 12 hours.
These included a 1.5km ocean swim, a two-hour mud run and several simulations.
Among these were a hostage rescue, sniper shooting, head-on accident initial action with the added difficulty of sensory deprivation, additional weights, limited food and penalties for a variety of offences.
Brown declined to comment on the status of the coaching positions at the Highlanders.
Head coach Jamie Joseph is expected to be confirmed as the new coach of Japan in the coming days although it is believed he will still coach the Highlanders next season.