The side should not lack for motivation when it takes on the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Highlanders had last week off with a bye and were forced to have the disappointing loss to the Blues on March 22 fresh in their minds.
Highlanders assistant coach Glenn Delaney said the team was disappointed in its efforts against the Blues.
"You have those weeks off when there is a rock underneath the towel. It still stings a bit but the best thing you can do is get back together,'' he said.
"We are working through it, looking where we are at.
"All our games have been very close and we have to make sure we do things a little bit better in some key areas.''
Delaney said one of the key areas was to maintain pressure on teams and to keep hold of possession to keep up scoreboard pressure.
"We have got to be more consistent. That is a fairly obvious word to use.
"But when you score points and make errors very quickly that is compelling pressure on you.''
Kick-offs were just part of the process and he did not think the Highlanders had been too bad in this area.
But it was a set piece and set pieces were a vital part of the game, he said.
All Black scrum coach Mike Cron visited yesterday and caught up with the front rowers in the squad.
The Highlanders had chopped and changed their line-up in the the opening rounds and, after winning the opening two games, have not won for more than a month.
The Highlanders were unlucky to go down to the Hurricanes earlier in the season - losing to a last-minute penalty - and Delaney said the side would use payback to try to win on Friday night.
"There is always motivation but you make your own luck. We had opportunities to close that game down and there were decisions which perhaps did not go our way ... but these things happen.
"We just want to make sure we are in the right part of the field to score points.''
Delaney said the side was not getting ahead of itself with selection.
"The difficulty is with selection you can intend not to make changes but then the rugby gods shine down and something happens and you have to make changes.
"The key driver is let's get through this game, if we are happy with the combinations then we'll keep flourishing. But let's see how we go, and move on from there.''
Delaney confirmed Waikato halfback Jack Stratton has joined the squad to replace the injured Aaron Smith.
Stratton played for Delaney when he was with Canterbury and will relish the chance to come into camp.
The starting halfback role will go to either Kayne Hammington or Folau Fakatava. Midfield back Rob Thompson is available this week after missing a month following an ankle injury.
The Hurricanes are likely to have centre Matt Proctor, who went off injured last weekend in the loss to the Crusaders while captain Dane Coles missed that match with a calf strain. It is touch and go whether he will play on Friday night.
• The Highlanders Bravehearts side will play Japan A in a curtain-raiser on Friday night, starting at 5pm.