Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger is confident his side will hit back this week as it heads to Christchurch for a tough match against the Crusaders.
But it will not have a long preparation time as missed connections meant some members of the side did not arrive back into Dunedin until about lunchtime yesterday.
Mauger said the players were shattered with their performance against the Chiefs in Fiji last Saturday night.
A poor first half had the Highlanders down 42-0 at the break and, although the side came back and scored four tries in the second half, the team was still well beaten 45-22.
The team had reviewed the match and what has come through was the preparation was not quite right and the team did not react well to the initial Chiefs onslaught.
"It felt like we nailed parts of it [preparation] before we got on the plane. But it just felt like we did not have the energy right going into the game,'' Mauger said.
He said perhaps the team should have travelled a day earlier to Suva but he could not fault the hospitality.
"History tells us every time we get a smack on the nose we are usually pretty good the next week. The challenge for this group is to not get smacked on the nose.
"Make sure we are well prepared and have coping mechanisms to make sure that we do not take so long to recover and get back on the road.
"Our boys were absolutely shattered after the game. And that was because of where we have taken our game this year, and what we want to do. That means a lot to the guys.
"We are all disappointed that we did not nail it. The best way to review that is acknowledge the things we did not nail and why was it. We've had a good couple of days of reflection and everyone is back on the horse now.''
He said the shortened preparation time this week - the side starts training today - may work to its advantage as the players can get back on the field straight away.
Loose forward Liam Squire was a 50-50 chance to play on Friday night as his shoulder makes progress.
Prop Siate Tokolahi suffered an injury to the back of a knee in the game in Fiji.
The Crusaders are coming off the bye and will be fit and raring to go.
Playing in Christchurch at night in the middle of winter, Mauger knows what is going to be waiting for his side.
"You go to Christchurch this time of year it is going to be cold and damp. Even if it has not been raining it is still going to be cold and damp. We have got some good plans to combat that.
"The Crusaders have not lost a Super Rugby game for two years there so it is going to be a good battle.
"They are sitting on top of the table for good reason. They are consistent with their performances and are pretty strong right across the board.
"There are not too many chinks. We are going to have to be at our very best to try and break them down on Friday night.''