In about 15 weeks, we will find out if the Highlanders have been able to lift themselves above the bar of mediocrity they set for themselves over the last five years, or if their lack of experience and star power has been exposed.
For now, the immediate focus has to be on hitting the ground running with victory over the Reds in Brisbane next week. And 80min against the Blues, ranked by most as semifinal certainties, will help indicate if that is possible.
‘‘This will be a good test for us and a good gauge of what we've been doing and where we're at,'' Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said yesterday.
‘‘It's going to be a lot more structured than our first two pre-season hitouts, and it's particularly important we use the game to put the things we've been practising on to the field.
‘‘The base of our gameplan has to start coming through and it would be great if we can really launch into the season with some pretty positive results.''
The other key aim for the Highlanders has to be coming through the game without adding to an already worrying injury toll.
Moore is without three loose forwards - captain Craig Newby, No 8 Steven Setephano and lock-flanker Hoani MacDonald - for this game, and all three could again be absent in Brisbane.
That has prompted Moore to start draft lock Hayden Triggs on the blindside flank against the Blues. ‘‘Hayden's actually played quite a bit of footy at 6 and we've always wanted to give him a chance there,'' Moore said.
‘‘With Newby and Hoani dinged up, and now Setephano as well, we've lost some options there. We know what Adam Thomson can do, so this is a chance for Hayden to have a run.''
Moore hoped Setephano, who suffered a shoulder injury in the internal trial near Oamaru a week ago, could play against the Reds.
There are also midfield issues to consider. Aaron Bancroft learned this week he had to have laser surgery on his injured eye, and he is out for four weeks.
With just 12 backs in the squad, Moore is stretched for options, and while there is no decision yet, it seems likely wider squad member Matt Saunders will be called into the full squad.
It will also be interesting to see whether Moore gives first five-eighth Daniel Bowden some time at second five this evening.
This will be the third time the Highlanders have played under the experimental law variations, and for the second time in two weeks they will be refereed by Lyndon Bray.
The Highlanders have experienced only New Zealand referees' interpretations of the laws, but will come under the whistle of two South Africans (Marius Jonker and Craig Joubert) when they play in Australia in the first two rounds of the Super 14.
‘‘That's definitely a concern,'' Moore said. ‘‘I know the referees are constantly taking about the new laws and are trying to get some sort of calibration across the three countries, but it does worry me a bit that things might be viewed differently by the South African referees.''
It is a little pointless to talk about individual match-ups tonight, because across the park - noticeably in the backs - the Blues are loaded with more experience and explosive talent.
But there will be keen interest on how the massive Highlanders front rowers front up against their more prominent opponents, how ballwinning locks Tom Donnelly and Isaac Ross contribute to a game with fewer line-outs, and whether the promise of Highlanders backs like Bowden and Fetu'u Vainikolo can shine out against the Blues superstars.
And, of course, there will be special welcomes for our Nick All Black first five-eighth Nick Evans, and Blues assistant coach Greg Cooper, both of whom return to Carisbrook for the first time since leaving the Highlanders.
