The Crusaders are coming to town and bringing their hefty forward park with them.
The defending champion loves the set piece and likes to scrum and lineout until the cows come home.
But there is a way around that - run them around and do not let them have the ball.
The Hurricanes did that in beating the Red and Blacks last week and the Highlanders - although they are not saying - are probably looking to carry out the same tactics at Forsyth Barr Stadium this Saturday night.
''We know they are a set-piece team and they use that to get into the game. And I think they showed that last week,'' Dermody said.
''I think they mauled 10 out of 14 lineouts [last week] which is a real weapon for them. I guess it is up to us to stop them and that is the challenge of rugby.''
Dermody believes the scrum is still a vital part of the game.
''The scrum is probably the most confrontational part of the game. There is eight guys - there is a lot of pressure going through the scrum. If you can get on top in this area it can be a real boost for the team.''
It is a bit of science, the scrum. Big packs of men pushing and twisting to get one over each other.
Dermody, who played three tests for the All Blacks in 2006, said scrummaging was a discipline in which you could not rest on your laurels.
''It is a funny one, being a scrum coach. You can't really look back at how you are going. It is all about how you are going forward for the next game because you can come unstuck pretty quick.
''We are happy with how we are going. We have come through with a good test against the Stormers but we know what the Crusaders can bring, and we look forward to the challenge.
''It is more around your processes and the processes of how to scrum. If you worry about what had happened then it can take away from the process.''
Last year the Highlanders played the Crusaders three times during the competition and lost every time.
But this was a new year with new coaches at the Highlanders although the side could learn something from what happened last year.
''Last year is last year and they ended up going on to win it and played really well. We look back at those games and we lost key moments in those games. We have got plans in place now to try and win those moments.''
The side is not carrying any new injuries. Hooker Ash Dixon trained yesterday after missing the game last week because of an injured back.
Midfield back Richard Buckman is progressing with a neck injury and could be back mid-April. Dan Pryor has a tight hamstring and is in doubt for Saturday.
Head coach Aaron Mauger and assistant coach Mark Hammett both played for the Crusaders but Dermody said they were staunch Highlanders men now.
The coaching and management team had teamed up to form a futsal team over the past couple of seasons. Mauger is the leading goal-scorer while Dermody is more of a sweeper out the back.
''It is more of a blocking role and a deep defender. Goalkeeper? No, not quick enough.''