Highlanders assistance coach Scott McLeod said from Hong Kong last night the team had settled in well, preparing for its game against Racing 92.
It was now looking to get some combinations going and they could only do that through playing.
"When you end up training against each other you start to know everyone, the moves, what players are going to do. We need to go up against other teams,'' he said.
"Throw different things about, test different systems and combinations. You do get sick of playing against each other and need a game.''
The side had been training since last November and, although it had a three-week break over Christmas, it had been back at work for four weeks.
McLeod said there did not appear to be a lot of interest from the wider Hong Kong population in the match but the organisers were confident of a good crowd.
"I think it is a game a lot of rugby followers have been looking forward to - a southern hemisphere team against a northern hemisphere team - and we hope to put on a good performance.''
The side had trained well twice since arriving in the former British territory and everyone was fit and well.
The Highlanders have named a squad of 28 for the game.
Many pre-season matches are played in quarters, but this match will be played in two 40-minute halves and McLeod said the starting side would play the first 50 minutes of the match and changes would then be made.
That would give a good chance to those starting the clash to make an impression.
Those who do not make it on to the field in Hong Kong will get an opportunity to play against the Crusaders, at Waimumu next Thursday.
McLeod said the Racing 92 team was yet to be named and there had been suggestions star recruit All Black Dan Carter might begin the game on the bench.
However, Carter is sure to be involved at some time as are the likes of former All Blacks Chris Masoe and Joe Rokocoko.
Racing 92 sits in second place in the Top 14 league in France and has also qualified for the later stages of the European club competition so is running into some impressive form.
McLeod said it would be good to play against the French side which would bring a style different from most sides they played against.
Dunedin may have been sweltering in temperatures above 25degC over the past few days but it appears to be the opposite in Hong Kong.
The temperature went down to 3degC one day last week, the coldest temperature recorded in the territory for nearly 60 years.
It had warmed up since, getting past 15degC, and McLeod said it was very comfortable to train in.
● The Highlanders announced yesterday they had signed loose forward Dan Pryor for another one year, through to 2017.