Highlanders

Some things go together: strawberries and cream, salt and vinegar.

Former Highlanders scrum coach Steve Cumberland is extending his Japanese stay but says plenty of players and coaches have fallen by the wayside.

It will not only be the Highlanders and Sharks treading the turf at Carisbrook tomorrow night.

Southland Ranfurly Shield hero Robbie Robinson will make his starting debut for the Highlanders in their Super 14 rugby match against the Sharks at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

Key players Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs return from internal suspension among a remarkable nine changes to the Highlanders starting side to face the Sharks in their Super 14 rugby match at Dunedin on Saturday.

It was a long return journey for the Highlanders but vice-captain Jamie Mackintosh says they are excited to be home and now need to focus on getting some payback against the Sharks.

South African sides may be sitting at the top of the Super 14 table but Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell says their true ability will not be known until they leave the country.

The Durban-based Sharks Super 14 rugby team is training in Queenstown this week before its match against the Highlanders at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

This really is backs-to-the-wall stuff.

Shorn of three of their best players, coming off a scoreless performance and going up against the defending champion in its own back yard, where it hasn't lost for 13 matches - it is not going to be easy for the Highlanders in Pretoria tomorrow morning.

The dropping of Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs from this week's Super 14 match has just made a hard job even harder, Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid says.