Highlanders loosehead prop Jamie Mackintosh said he wanted to line up against the All Black trio of John Afoa, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock.
"To me it's a little bit disappointing they are not fronting up. Keven, John and Woody are acknowledged as the best front row in the competition," Mackintosh said.
"You want to test yourself against them as they are the best, so in that way it is disappointing."
Afoa has injured his ankle, while a decision on Woodcock's availability will be made today.
The decision will rest with Woodcock, who is recovering from an inner ear infection which has affected his ability to run.
He got through the captain's run yesterday at Eden Park but has lost some weight, having not played since the beginning of March.
Charlie Faumuina comes into the side in place of Afoa, while Tevita Mailau will replace Woodcock if the All Black prop opts not to play.
Mackintosh said the Highlanders would be looking to attack through the scrum, and the side was fully focused on what was needed to win the match.
"The guys are going to be up for it. Every week we try to target the scrum we are playing against, put some pressure on them and get Jimmy [Cowan] in behind them.
"Our scrum has been going fairly well this year. Last week, the Reds were a typical Australian team, cheating their way through 80 minutes. We wanted to put them under pressure but neither of us really got on top."
Many pundits had predicted the scrum would become irrelevant under the new experimental law variations but Mackintosh said it had not worked out that way.
"Every game we've had so far this year we've had 15 scrums or more. So the scrum is more important than ever. If you can put their scrum under pressure than you can impose your game on them."
He said the side had to improve significantly from last week's close victory over the Reds, which had left a "pretty sombre" feeling in the changing room.
"We've got to be more clinical and get over the advantage line.
That is what our game is about, getting over the advantage line and bringing some continuity into our game."
Mackintosh (24) said though he did not play under former coach Gordon Hunter, he knew how important the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy was to the region.
"Quite a lot of the boys did not have a lot to do with Gordon but there is still huge respect within the team for Gordon and what he did for southern rugby.
We want to go out there and win the trophy."
Hunter died of cancer in 2002.
Mackintosh had a delayed start to the season, because of a knee injury in the first match of the year.
He said he was blowing hard last week, in his second full game back.
"The first full game back, you get through on adrenaline, but. . . last week I was really blowing."
Mackintosh will be a key tonight as the Highlanders will be looking to dominate up front, and secure the majority of possession and territory.
This match is almost season defining for both teams.
Win and the play-offs are still a distinct possibility.
Lose and the play-offs may start to resemble the north side of Mt Everest.
The Highlanders do not want to turn over ball and get involved in the sort of loose, frenetic game that would suit the Blues style.
The southern side needs to play solid no-frills rugby and punish a Blues side which can turn on the style but is also prone to mistakes.
A clinical approach is needed from key men such as captain Cowan and first five-eighth Mathew Berquist.
The Blues have weapons such as Anthony Tuitavake and Isaia Toeava, so the Highlanders will need to be strong on defence. Tuitavake will be playing his 50th game of Super rugby, having first played for the Highlanders in 2005.
The Highlanders have never enjoyed the trip to Eden Park.
The southerners have won there just once, in 2002.
