After giving away up to 3000 Highlanders flags at each home game during the season, they have few left for fans attending the Super rugby final against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.
Highlanders commercial manager Mike Kerr wants to make the side feel as ''at home'' as possible for the match, and flag-waving fans will only help.
The idea for fans to return their flags came about after Highlanders fullback Ben Smith mentioned how impressive it was to see so many flags waving at games, including last week's semifinal win against the Waratahs in Sydney, Mr Kerr said.
''Unfortunately, throughout the year, we had given them all away and they take a long time to make and get here from China,'' he said.
''We had the idea of people bringing in their flags to make sure no-one's flag doesn't fly in Wellington.
''It's something quite novel. It's the Highlanders' way to do things, and it makes people feel that while they might not be at the game, their flag is still going to fly.''
Fans could return any flags to the Edgar Centre and they would then be taken to Wellington on the same flight as the Highlanders tomorrow, Mr Kerr said.
Returned flags will then be distributed to fans from the team's ''official club rooms'' in Wellington, the Shepherds Arms Hotel.
Mr Kerr said questions had been asked regarding whether stadium officials would allow Highlanders flags into the ground, but thought it should not be a problem.
''You would like to think we can, but at the end of the day it's their stadium,'' he said.
''You would hate to think that somebody would tell you to take a Highlanders jersey off. It's no different to a flag.''
The Otago Daily Times is also printing about 2000 Highlanders posters for fans to hold up at the match.
Between 800 and 900 will be at Dunedin Airport for fans to pick up on their way to Wellington and they can also be collected from the ODT office or Shepherds Arms Hotel in Wellington.
