But tonight the side, and the supporters, finally have the chance to get things back on track - get the momentum back and start putting things together as the crunch part of the season looms.
Standing in the way are the Sharks and their sound defensive structure.
The Sharks may not be lighting it up on attack but their defence is sound and there is plenty of steel in the ranks.
They have tough loose forwards such as Philip van der Walt and the experienced Keegan Daniel, and lock Stephan Lewies will not back down.
The Highlanders, though, may have to play the waiting game tonight and patience will have to be in plenty of supply.
Having talisman and captain Ben Smith back on the case will give the side a big boost.
Smith missed the last game through a concussion and his calmness and enterprise was missed.
Smith said yesterday he had been tested and was right to go for the match against the Sharks.
He never liked missing games but the medical staff had taken a cautious approach to his injury, which he fully supported.
"I just had to be a bit careful with it. The doc put me through a few paces and just made sure I was good to go,'' Smith said.
Smith did not enjoy watching the Reds game and was keen to get back on the field.‘‘We had a really good second half but we took a wee bit too long to get going.
We can't afford that against a really good Sharks team.
"The boys have been really excited to have a game again this week. Everyone is looking forward to it. Back home, hopefully we have a good crowd supporting us.''
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said the side was on edge after the loss to the Reds.
Some players had lost their place through their performance against the Reds and that just reflected the tough competition between players in the squad.
"It is going to be a really tough game for us; they are coming off a couple of losses. They're desperate, we're desperate, so usually when that happens it is going to be a tough match,'' Joseph said.
Joseph said it was crunch time for a lot of teams, not just the Highlanders, in the next few weeks.
"Things will start splitting away in the next few weeks, I think, with teams playing each other. We are targeting the next three games as a mini season ... it does not get any harder. But it is a waste of time if we do not get some points in the bank in the next game.''
Joseph said loosehead prop Craig Millar had been called into the main squad.
Otago and Taieri prop Aki Seiuli had been called into the squad's wider training group to cover for the season-ending injury to Brendon Edmonds.
Highlanders v Sharks
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tonight, 7.35pm
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Matt Faddes, Malakai Fekitoa, Jason Emery, Jack Wilson, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Liam Squire, Shane Christie (co-captain), Elliot Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Craig Millar, Ross Geldenhuys, Alex Ainley, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Hayden Parker, Patrick Osborne
Sharks: Willie Le Roux, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Andre Esterhuizen, Lwazi Mvovo, Garth April, Cobus Reinach, Philip van der Walt, Jean-Luc du Preez, Keegan Daniel, Stephan Lewies, Etienne Oosthuizen, Coenie Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Tendai Mtawarira (captain).
Reserves: Chilliboy Ralepelle, Thomas du Toit, Lourens Adriaanse, Hyron Andrews, Jean Deysel, Michael Classens, Joe Pietersen, Sibusiso Sithole
Referee: Ben O'Keefe (Wellington)
