The Highlanders are seeking to get off the bottom of the table, and a win over the Kings in Port Elizabeth will do that.
And, with the Kings coming off a 72-10 thrashing by the Waratahs in Port Elizabeth, there is a golden chance for the Highlanders to get their second win of the season.
But coach Jamie Joseph is not counting his chickens too soon. He knows the Kings will be hurting and will not lie down come kickoff.
''Usually, when someone gets a hiding and gets felled, they come back well. They have got a bit of experience there,'' he said.
''A few of the senior guys in our team have talked about that and the fact we don't want to go backwards. The biggest challenge is getting over the trip, going down to Eastern State and getting things done.''
The Highlanders had a light training run yesterday as they tried to get the cobwebs out of their systems after the long flight from Dunedin to Johannesburg.
The team will be based in Johannesburg and will fly to Port Elizabeth the day before the game.
Young flanker Hugh Blake has been summoned to South Africa after utility back Phil Burleigh was deemed unfit to travel.
The squad left Burleigh behind to see if his shoulder injury, which he picked up in the narrow win over the Sharks, would come right. But it has failed to respond to treatment and Blake has travelled instead.
Joseph said the Highlanders had enough cover on the wings, with both Tony Ensor and Maritino Nemani in the touring party. Jason Emery is also an option to play on the wing although he has limited experience in that position.
The side had no cover for openside flanker John Hardie, hence the decision to fly Blake over. Tim Boys has a neck problem and did not make the trip.
Blake will only join the team late tomorrow so is unlikely to play any part in the game against the Kings.
Joseph admitted there was a spring in the step of the players, coming off the first win of the season last week.
''That win has given us a bit of confidence. We have had a few close games this year and that one went right down to the dying seconds.''
The team had instigated a simple game plan in last week's win and Joseph said that was again likely to be the formula this week.
He was loath to change a winning team, although with Burleigh out, a new winger would be needed.
The Kings have named their side to take on the Highlanders and welcome back captain Luke Watson.
However, they are missing loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht, who is injured, while winger Sergeal Petersen has joined the national under-20 squad. No tighthead prop has been named as Kevin Buys is under an injury cloud.
The Highlanders will name their side later today.
Kings team
To play Highlanders
George Whitehead, Marcello Sampson, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss, Siyanda Grey, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Cornell du Preez, Luke Watson (captain), Wimpie van der Walt, David Bulbring, Steven Sykes, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Tighthead prop to be named. Reserves: Virgile Lacombe, Daniel Adongo, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, Shane Gates, SP Marais. One to be added.
