But victory tonight will also bring something of a rare commodity for the Highlanders men.
The team has not won two games in a row since April 2019 and that seems like a lifetime ago.
And it was. The side beat the Blues and the Sunwolves — remember them? — in the middle of the 2019 season and since then the Highlanders have mixed wins, losses and draws. But never two wins in a row.
Good teams consistently churn out good results and the Highlanders need to show that ability tonight against the Force.
The Force is a limited side, which in some ways is like the Highlanders. They come from far and wide but have a good team spirit and will never throw the towel in.
The Highlanders really should be too good for the home team. The visitors will look to start well and put the foot on the throat to snuff out any Force resistance.
Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon said the side had enjoyed being on tour but there was now a job to be done.
‘‘Teams like the Force . . . they will hang in there. They are a gritty bunch. A lot of experience and a team with a lot of belief at the moment,’’ he said.
‘‘We have really got our hands full and for us, we need to back up the performance from last week.
‘‘There are going to be periods you have to dig in. We want to try and control this game from the get-go. So we have to win moments and play in the right parts of the field.’’
The Highlanders made a great start to the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman series last week with a commanding 40-19 win over the Reds, who lacked energy and combinations.
Dixon said it was a good energetic performance from the side last week, but plenty of opportunities had been missed and there was still a long way to go to reach end goals.
The side welcomes back Shannon Frizell after he missed last week’s game and Dixon said his return was great for the team.
Josh Ioane will also be back on the bench and will no doubt be added to the side in the second half. It is encouraging to hear he has been doing the work off the field, for there is nothing better for the Highlanders than a fit and firing Ioane.
The Highlanders should draw some expatriate supporters to the game. Dixon said he had family in the area and was looking forward to getting support at the ground.
The Highlanders last played the Force in 2017, and came away with a commanding 55-6 win in Perth.
Dixon missed that game — he was in bed with the flu all week. The only player who began that game and is in the starting line-up tonight is prop Siate Tokolahi.
Aaron Smith came off the bench that night, with Kayne Hammington starting. The roles are reversed tonight.
Australian Nic Berry is refereeing tonight, the first time the Highlanders will have had a non-New Zealand referee for more than a year. It should not cause too much confusion, although the Australians can have different interpretations at scrum time and around the breakdown.
The Force will wheel out former All Blacks Richard Kahui, on the wing, and Jeremy Thrush, at lock.
It also has Irishman Rob Kearney at fullback and Pumas halfback Tomas Cubelli, who will be making his 50th Super Rugby appearance.
Fine weather is forecast for today.
Force v Highlanders, Perth, tonight, 9.45pm (NZ time)
Highlanders: Sam Gilbert, Sio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (co-captain), Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Bryn Evans, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-captain), Ayden Johnstone. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, Kazuki Himeno, Kayne Hammington, Josh Ioane, Ngane Punivai.
Force: Rob Kearney, Richard Kahui, Kyle Godwin (captain), Henry Taefu, Jordan Olowefela, Jake McIntyre, Tomas Cubelli, Tim Anstee, Kane Koteka, Fergus Lee-Warner, Siteleki Timani, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Feleti Kaitu’u, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Andrew Reasy, Angus Warner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Domingo Miotti, Jake Strachan.
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
