There is certainly much at stake when they play Moana Pasifika tomorrow in game four of Super Round at the impressive and expensive One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.
Just getting to join the fun at the new venue is a big deal.
The Highlanders are no strangers at playing under a roof, of course, but this is a chance to see what $672million has bought the city, the Crusaders and the wider Canterbury region.
A sell-out crowd, so rare in Super Rugby these days, should also help create a buzz around a ‘‘home’’ Highlanders game in the flatlands.
And, for Moana Pasifika, this is another big opportunity to show they could still be a valuable part of Super Rugby — that is, if there remains any grain of hope that a white knight is going to ride in (no horses in the new stadium, of course) to save them from extinction.
These are proud men, and decent rugby players, who might not have set the world alight through five seasons in this competition but have always been up for the battle.
Most importantly, for the Highlanders, this game represents the start of a run home that will either end in a welcome return to the playoffs or, at worst, leave some questioning whether they are making much progress in the right direction.
They have again — with the exception of the shocker against the Hurricanes — been highly competitive this season, all the while producing patches of quite sublime rugby.
They have also — again — found ways to lose the close ones.
Can they make the playoffs?
Certainly. But the sixth-placed team in each of the past three seasons finished with six wins and an average of 31 points.
That means the Highlanders almost certainly need to bank at least three more wins, and the reality is the next three rounds, when they play Moana Pasifika, the Drua in Fiji, and the Waratahs in Dunedin, probably need to deliver those wins, given the season ends with away games against the table-topping Chiefs and Hurricanes.
The Highlanders start as the favourites tomorrow.
Moana Pasifika are on an eight-game losing run, and it was 39-19 to the southerners when they met at North Harbour Stadium in the power-cut game earlier this season.
The Highlanders have won all four of their away games against Moana in the short history of this fixture, with an average winning margin of 15.3 points.
Still, a challenge can be expected, and it is no surprise Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has named a 6-2 split on the bench to prepare for the physical exchanges.
‘‘They’re big fellas — a big, physical team,’’ Joseph said.
‘‘A lot of our forwards have had some serious minutes. We’re giving opportunities to some guys, and we know it’s going to be a really tough match.
‘‘They’re a different team to who we played three or four weeks ago. They’ve got guys returning, a bigger tight five, new loose forwards, new nine, new 10.
‘‘They showed against the Waratahs just how strong they can be when they get a roll on.’’
One of those big boppers is Southland and former Otago Boys’ High School No 8 Semisi Tupou Tae’iloa, who leads all Super Rugby forwards with 3.9 tackle breaks per game.
The 22-year-old ball of destruction had 10 tackle breaks and made 23 tackles in the game against the Waratahs in Sydney, and it will be a shock if the Highlanders are not hoping to bring him home next season.
Joseph said spirits were high in the Highlanders as they prepare for a mini-tour that includes tomorrow’s game, a few days in Christchurch and the trip to Fiji to face the Drua.
‘‘I’m just really looking forward to getting a look at the new stadium.
‘‘Super Round ... there’s going to be a lot of energy based around the stadium.
‘‘We’ve really enjoyed our indoor stadium. This is a new one. I think ours is better.’’
Super Rugby
Christchurch, tomorrow, 2pm
Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Jonah Lowe, Tanielu Tele’a, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), Xavier Tito-Harris, Cameron Millar, Adam Lennox, Nikora Broughton, Veveni Lasaqa, Oliver Haig, Tomas Lavanini, Mitch Dunshea, Saula Ma’u,Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot (co-captain).
Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Angus Ta’avao, TK Howden, Hugh Renton, Lucas Casey, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson.
Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tuna Tuitama, Solomon Alaimalo, Tevita Latu, Glen Vaihu, Patrick Pellegrini, Jonathan Taumateine, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Semisi Paea, Miracle Fai’ilagi (captain), Jimmy Tupou, Allan Craig, Chris Apoua, Millennium Sanerivi, Abraham Pole.
Reserves: Mamoru Harada, Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Paula Latu, Tom Savage, Ola Tauelangi, Augustine Pulu, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Israel Leota.
