The Highlanders are anxious when they play the Brumbies to both avoid a third consecutive loss and have no repeat of the scrum meltdown against the Reds last weekend.
That game descended into set-piece sloppiness as, rightly or wrongly, the referee determined the under-the-pump Highlanders were infringing constantly and blew his whistle accordingly.
It appeared to be a chastening experience for talented Highlanders tighthead Saula Ma’u, who came off second best against crafty Reds loosehead Alex Hodgman.
However, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph defended Ma’u, who has made such rapid strides in a difficult position in the past couple of years and is still just 24, and said the scrum issue was not about one player.
"Saula’s young, conscientious. He took it on his shoulders but it was the eight’s problem.
"We weren’t able to adjust to the refereeing.
"He took it as being his fault. I don’t see it that way. I see the scrum being eight men against eight men, and that’s the area we’ve got to get right."
It will get no easier tonight.
The Brumbies field an imposing scrum led by experienced tests props Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper, and are sure to target a Highlanders scrum missing All Blacks loosehead Ethan de Groot.
This feels like something of a crossroads point for the Highlanders’ season.
Talk of "must win" can be banished, but with a record of two wins and three losses, a difficult road swing through Australia and games against powerful New Zealand teams (Chiefs twice, Crusaders twice, Hurricanes again) to come, points need to be banked where possible.
There is just a hint of concern the Highlanders may be dipping after a promising start to the season — though they remain fiercely competitive, despite a hefty injury toll — but Joseph is not having any talk of pressure mode.
"I’m not sitting here going, ‘the Highlanders need to win on [Friday]’. We want to win every [Friday].
"Our average age is 22, we’ve got one All Black, we’ve shown some good potential.
"It’s a team on the rise but it’s not a finished product.
"The important thing for me is getting guys co-ordinated so they play to their potential every weekend. It’s not necessarily winning every weekend.
"Young men are going to make mistakes, and that’s kind of what has been happening the last couple of weeks."
As well as having a forward pack bookended by the strength of Alaalatoa and star No 8 Rob Valetini, and containing star blindside flanker Tom Hooper, leading the Super Rugby player of the year voting, the Brumbies have backs who will punish the Highlanders if they make mistakes.
Right winger Andy Muirhead is in form with five tries and three assists to his name so far this season, Corey Toole is blazingly quick on the left, Tom Wright might be the most dangerous fullback in the competition and Len Ikitau packs all sorts of punch.
The Brumbies have won four straight against the Highlanders, who have lost 10 of their past 11 games in Australia.
Highlanders co-captain Hugh Renton has travelled with the team to Australia, suggesting he may return for the game against the Force in Perth.
Front-rowers Rohan Wingham and Jack Taylor, and halfback James Arscott, are also in the tour squad.
A handful of uninjured Highlanders left behind will get a run in club rugby tomorrow.
