The team is set to take on the Bulls this Sunday morning in Pretoria and then head to Argentina to play the Jaguares on March 15.
The touring squad of 27 was released publicly yesterday and includes two players new to the squad in Otago flanker Slade McDowall and Canterbury lock Will Tucker.
Locks Josh Dickson and Pari Pari Parkinson were not named in the touring squad. Dickson has had a sore shoulder while Parkinson played in the opening game and has not been sighted since. He has a niggly ankle injury.
A request for comment from the Highlanders about the two absent locks was not answered.
The four locks touring are: Jesse Parete, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jack Whetton and Tucker.
Centre Rob Thompson is another absentee. He has had a quiet start to the season and has been bothered by a quad injury.
Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon, the two vice-captains, have been promoted to the co-captaincy.
Dixon has previously held this role but it is new to Smith.
Highlanders captain James Lentjes badly broke his leg in the side’s loss to the Rebels at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Friday night.
He suffered a fracture and dislocation to his left ankle and is expected to undergo surgery within the next seven to 10 days.
He will miss the rest of the Super Rugby season and faces an expected recovery time of six to nine months.
Head coach Aaron Mauger said the side’s thoughts were with Lentjes.
"He has been an outstanding leader for us over the pre-season and the early rounds of the competition. The whole squad join with me in wishing the skip a successful recovery and we look forward to seeing him around the environment post-surgery."
McDowall has come in to replace Lentjes.
Highlanders
Touring squad
Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Mitch Hunt, Josh Ioane, Teihorangi Walden, Ngane Punivai, Jona Nareki, Michael Collins, Tima Fainga’anuku, Scott Gregory, Josh McKay, Ayden Johnstone, Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Nathan Vella, Jeff Thwaites, Siate Tokolahi, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jack Whetton, Will Tucker, Slade McDowall, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Jesse Parete, Teariki Ben-Nicholas.