This week's opponents the Rebels are considered somewhat of easy beats while they try and find their feet in the Super Rugby competition.
But I wasn't so convinced, until the 33rd minute of Friday night's game.
With the likes of James O'Connor, Cooper Vuna, and Kurtley Beale on the books they have some serious striking potential. But for one reason or another they don't know how to use their strike power, well they haven't been able to for five out of the first six games anyway.
For the best part of the first 40 minutes on Friday the Highlanders were sucked into playing the Rebel way. Poor handling and attacking options which made me wonder if the 9-0 score line after 30mins was going to be the end score. Then, something just clicked and the Highlanders were off.
The first try of the night going to one of the Highlanders best, Ben Smith. Hosea Gear broke the Rebels' line then gave a ball to Shaun Treeby who delivered a well timed pass back inside for Smith to break two tackles with a little help from Aaron Smith and go over for the first.
Then on the stroke of halftime Adam Thomson, the other of the Highlanders' best, dived over for a try in the corner for a 12 all halftime score line.
When the two teams returned to the park after the break the Highlanders continued where they left off before the break with Adam Thomson diving over in the corner. This time Ben Smith fired a lovely cut out pass to a diving Thomson for his second of the night. Now Thomson seems to have a freakish ability to score two in a night. But this one was extra special, well I thought.
For anyone that follows Thomson on Twitter (I do) you may have noticed a tweet that was along the lines of "sea-gulling on the wing it is then".
He knew he was going to score two tries. Actually three and help anyone out who had him in their fantasy team.
His third looked more like a forward's try, although it was way out on the wing again. I would be fairly confident in saying the All Blacks number 6 jersey is his to lose at this stage.
Before Thomson completed the hat-trick though Ben Smith capped off a fantastic night with a brace. Off the back of line-out move Smith found the ball in his hands, he put the gas on and strolled through the Rebels line untouched. It was only too that Smith came up short of the line for his hat-trick that Thompson was able to grab his. These two are working well together.
Tries to Whopper and Kade Poki confirmed the seven try romp and first bonus point win for the Highlanders in season 2012.
While it was only the 'easy beat' Rebels, seven tries in 45 minutes of rugby is impressive against any team in the Super Rugby competition. For me this puts the Highlanders up there with the likes of the Stormers who are unbeaten and in Dunedin next week, and the Chiefs who are also red hot as the real contenders for 2012.
Without getting too far ahead of myself I realise there is still a lot of rugby left to be played this season, but if the Highlanders keep producing like they have been, and with what seems like half of their roster on the sidelines, a maiden Super Rugby title might just be waiting for the Blue and Golds.
This weekend's clash in front of what should almost be a sell out crowd at Forsyth will be the real tester against the Stormers. Essentially playing for double points, with the bye scheduled for week nine another home win would put the Highlanders in a great position approaching the half way mark of the season.
Let's hope the addition of Mike Delaney from Japan will go a long way to helping the southern men getting those much needed point too! Happy Easter!