One of the Highlanders' best is backing another one of their best.
Jeff Wilson says he has been through exactly what Waisake Naholo is going through now and is confident the big winger can get back to his best.
Naholo (27) has experienced a slow start to the season and had a game to forget against the Blues last Friday night at Eden Park.
He has yet to score a try this season for the Highlanders and was given a yellow card at Eden Park for a clumsy tip tackle.
Wilson, who played 60 tests for the All Blacks and 72 games for the Highlanders, said Naholo was trying hard but not getting the benefits.
''If you watched the way the Highlanders have played so far then they have not created as many opportunities as they have in the past and he has not been as involved,'' he said.
''If you are not involved in the game and the things that come to you most instinctively don't, then that is where you are.
''What you seeing right now, the things that he is very good at, they are not there. It's not happening for him as quickly as he would like.''
Wilson said it was not the end of the world for Naholo but he needed to get back into the groove.
'' I know from experience, when you have a number of games where the chances do not come, you just do not see them. But you just need one performance to break you out of it.''
Wilson said Naholo had the talent but things could go against a player - an example of that was set pieces not falling on his side of the field.
''They say he has just got to find some ways to get involved. But it is just not that easy. I got told to be more involved one time but every time I went somewhere, the ball went the other way. You just have to bide your time and the opportunities will come. Fundamentally, it comes back to what you know.
''Things can very quickly turn around. A couple of good games and he will be back to where he has been. You are at full confidence again.''
The Highlanders have been impacted by rest weeks implemented by the All Black management and the side fielding some inexperienced backlines.
''They are still searching for their best combination. It is a very inexperienced midfield ... last year, the way Tei Walden and Rob Thompson played they created a huge amount for them.''
Wilson said finding a new first five-eighth was also impacting on chances but they were getting there.
''Two weeks ago we were talking about the Chiefs. They have had a win and may have another win. You will look at their season very much differently.''
Wilson said Naholo had played and performed so well over the past four years and he still had to be in the All Black equation. He was confident Naholo could get back to his best.
''Look at all the things that he has done in the past four years. He can not be ignored. But it is not an easy proposition. There are a lot of good players around.
''The game is not breaking open. The other challenge is they are playing derbies and the defence is outstanding. The NZ sides have the best defences and he is playing the best in New Zealand at the moment.''
Jeff Wilson can be seen on The Breakdown, on Sky Sport 1 at 8.30pm every Tuesday.