The side came very close to defaulting to Taieri last weekend after a run of injuries and a shortage of props meant it struggled to stitch a team together.
Pirates fronted but had no reserve props on the bench and Taieri agreed to bend the rules so the game could go ahead.
Pirates was thrashed 68-19 but showed some spirit to score three tries in what was a lost cause.
The situation has improved since last week.
For a start, Highlanders loosehead prop Craig Millar has been made available for tomorrow's fixture against Alhambra-Union at Hancock Park.
Experienced lock Jared Williams returns after a week's absence to further bolster the pack, and Richard Ford, a front-rower from England, arrived in the city yesterday.
Pirates is short of quality loose forwards, with Josh Clark transferring to Southland to pursue playing opportunities with the Stags and Jeff Evans-Turner out with a knee injury.
The backline has struggled defensively but centre Sam Shearer has good pace and an eye for a gap, while Kieran Fowler is a steady replacement at first five-eighth for the injured Craig Sneddon.
That said, Pirates still has a big challenge ahead.
"We don't have a lot of depth, put it that way,'' Sneddon said.
"A lot of clubs are struggling a wee bit for numbers, well, for good quality players.
"We probably only have six, seven, eight payers who are really quality premier players. When they get injured, you just don't have enough players who are up to the standard, and that is why we've been getting the big scores against us.''
Sneddon felt his side might labour against the winless Alhambra-Union.
"Alhambra-Union have been unlucky. They could have easily won three or four games, they just have to get back into winning mode, I suppose.
"Obviously it is going to be a battle for us. We are still a wee bit light in the loose forward department but I definitely think we will be more competitive than the last three or four weeks, anyway.''
While Pirates is struggling at premier level, the rest of the club is in reasonable health.
The junior numbers are good and Pirates has two colts teams this season, plus a premier 2 side as well as a senior side.
The premier 2s are struggling for numbers but that is partly due to the problems at the top.
