The Highlanders will head to Timaru today as the Super Rugby machine starts rolling again.
Although all of the rugby focus is quite rightly on the test series decider between the All Blacks and the British and Irish Lions in Auckland, the Highlanders will face up to the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in eight days.
The July 14 game will be the final match of the regular season for the Highlanders before the playoffs.
Today's match against the Crusaders, kicking off at 3pm at Alpine Energy Stadium, is a chance for both teams, minus their internationals, to get back playing and get rid of the cobwebs.
It will actually be the fourth meeting of the two sides this year, the Crusaders having won all three.
The teams clashed in a pre-season match in Darfield and have also played two games in Super Rugby, both resulting in close wins for the Crusaders.
There is also a good chance the sides may clash for a fifth time in the playoffs.
The Crusaders will finish first or second while the Highlanders will either be seventh or eighth.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown is not looking too far ahead, though.
He is just focusing on the game today, hoping to prepare his side for the game against the Reds.
''The most important thing is to get out there and play the way we want to try and play the game - making sure we bring some pretty good physicality and intensity around the tackle and in our carries,'' Brown said.
''Just to get back on the horse and make sure we have the right preparation for the game against the Reds.''
The side started training again on June 29 and Brown said it has had a couple of hard days training.
Two players had niggles but there was nothing serious.
The Highlanders would run out 30 players today in a game to be played in two 40-minute spells.
The teams played an equivalent match last year, won easily by the Highlanders.
Brown said every game a team played, they wanted to win so the result was relevant.
''But we just want to play and put in a good performance which will have us well prepared for our last home game of the season against the Reds.''
With the track expected to be greasy, the onus will just be on perfecting the basic skills from both sides.
The Crusaders' final game of the season is against the Hurricanes in Wellington. The side is two points ahead of the Lions so may need to win that game to retain its top placing on the ladder.
The Highlanders will not know where they are headed in the playoffs - it will be either Christchurch or Johannesburg - until the final round is completed on July 16.
TEAMS
Highlanders: Josh Ioane, Gavin Stark, Sio Tomkinson, Rob Thompson, Tevita Li, Fletcher Smith, Kayne Hammington, Luke Whitelock, James Lentjes, Gareth Evans, Jackson Hemopo, Tom Franklin, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (captain), Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Flynn Thomas, Aki Seiuli, Craig Millar, Guy Millar, Alex Ainley, Joe Wheeler, Elliot Dixon, Adam Knight, Dan Pryor, Josh Renton, Liam Howley, Tei Walden, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki.
Crusaders: David Havili, Manasa Mataele, Seta Tamanivula, Sean Wainui, George Bridge, Mitchell Hunt, Mitchell Drummond, Jordan Taufua (captain), Jed Brown, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Mitchell Dunshea, Quinten Strange, Michael Alaalatoa, Ben Funnell, Tim Perry.
Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Chris Gawler, Oliver Jager, Jonno Osborne, Shannon Frizell, Bryn Hall, Marty McKenzie, Braydon Ennor, Jone Macilai, Vernon Fredericks.