The Highlanders will be without co-captain Shane Christie for the next couple of weeks at least and doubts surround the availability of rugged No.8 Liam Squire.
But provided star winger Waisake Naholo makes it through training tomorrow, he should make his comeback on Saturday.
Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown said yesterday Naholo had performed well in a club game on Saturday.
‘‘He seems to be in pretty good shape and is confident he can get out there. He still has got a little bit of work to do on Thursday to make sure he is OK to go,'' Brown said.
‘‘I think he is one of the most exciting players last year. He was ours and the competition's leading try-scorer in the competition. If you lose that from your team and someone else has to pick up the slack. It will be exciting for us to get him back.''
Brown said Christie was out for two to three weeks after injuring his hamstring in the side's victory over the Brumbies last Saturday.
Squire had picked up a hip injury and was a 50-50 chance to play, while second five-eighth Rob Thompson was going through concussion protocols and his availability was being assessed.
Long-term replacements for hooker Liam Coltman (toe) and first five-eighth Hayden Parker (knee) had not yet been finalised. Harbour hooker Sekonaia Pole was training with the team at present but the hooking cupboard appears bare.
First five-eighth Marty Banks is coming back from a rib injury and needs to get through training tomorrow to be available for the game against the Chiefs on Saturday.
Brown also hosed down any speculation he was putting his name forward as Highlanders head coach for next season.
He had earlier said he would not be seeking the position and stuck to that line yesterday.
He had re-signed next year as attack coach and there had been no change to that.
There had been no pressure yet to put his name forward to be the next Highlanders coach.