This is the last-chance saloon. The Highlanders take on the Reds in Brisbane tonight and know anything less than a win will see their chances of the playoffs dead and buried.
Jamie Joseph has not signed a contract yet but it appears he will be in charge of the Highlanders again next year.
The Highlanders can still make the playoffs but it is going to be a tall order and their fate is in the hands of others.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is calling on some home support for what he is describing as the crunch game of the season this Friday night.
Andrew Hore admits he is moving into the "green bananas" stage of his career.
Adam Thomson says he has been hearing it for 10 years.
It has been said for almost every game this season, but this time it does ring true - this is a must-win match for the Highlanders.
The playoff hopes of the Highlander are all but dead and buried, courtesy of a clinical Chiefs side which is looming as a genuine champion contender.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said his side played most of the rugby last night but made too many mistakes to win the game.
A full review of the Steel franchise will be conducted at the end of the season but any hope of spending up large to get in some new talent has been dismissed.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is questioning why his side is not being allowed to train more at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Former Dunedin rider Greg Henderson completed a hat trick of good news yesterday with selection in the New Zealand road cycling team for the Olympics. Steve Hepburn caught up with Henderson yesterday as the biggest month of his life looms.
Only about 4000 tickets remain available for the first test at Forsyth Barr Stadium involving the All Blacks.
So the men in green came, they had a look and in one test almost conquered. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at five questions which came out of the All Blacks-Ireland series and ponders the answers.
A flat five-minute period cost the Steel any hope of an upset victory over the Swifts in Sydney yesterday.
Hopes of the playoffs are long gone but the Steel can still salvage something from the season - a first win across the Ditch.
The Highlanders provide both the wingers for the All Blacks when they take on the Irish in Hamilton tomorrow night. Though Ben Smith and Hosea Gear have yet to make an impact at national level together, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at four wing combinations which carved up in the black jersey, and another which was not so successful.
England will play a test against the Black Caps at the University Oval next March, with a warm-up game beforehand in Queenstown.
Ireland can probably not play any better but All Black coach Steve Hansen believes his side may have been hindered by trying to play too much rugby.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph admits many of his players just want to get out and play rugby.