The team next season will be coached by Tony Brown, assisted by Scott McLeod and Mark Hammett, Brown taking over from Jamie Joseph, who had six years as head coach.
Brown, who is in Japan working with Joseph and the Japanese team as it prepares for the November internationals, will have plenty of familiar faces to work with. The franchise had 31 players signed by the end of last season as it looked for continuity in the new year.
The key players from the past few years have all penned deals and will be around for a while yet.
Halfback Aaron Smith is signed through to 2019 and first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga is with the Highlanders through to 2018. Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo are signed for another year and the Highlanders will be keen to make sure they stay around beyond next season.
Richard Buckman, who has been playing in Japan as he looks to get back to full fitness, is signed on until 2018.
Patrick Osborne and Jason Emery will be back again and Tevita Li comes down from the Blues, looking to restart his career.
Fletcher Smith will back up Sopoaga in the inside backs, but it is doubtful Hayden Parker will get a look in after a couple of injury-riddled seasons.
Parker's future may be overseas, although he could get a gig backing up at a Super rugby franchise. The key for him is to get out and play some rugby.
Aaron Smith will be backed up by Manawatu halfback Kayne Hammington and Josh Renton, who is coming back from a serious knee injury.
In the forward pack there will also be plenty of familiar faces.
All the loose forwards who turned out last year will be returning and will be up for a big year.
Co-captain Shane Christie has had a frustrating time over the last couple of years with injury and will be looking to make an impact on the field.
It will be interesting whether Brown stays with the co-captaincy idea and Christie stays at the helm.
Mark Reddish has headed to England to link up with Harlequins and he will be replaced by Otago lock Josh Dickson.
Joe Wheeler is playing in Japan but will be back for the Highlanders, along with Tom Franklin and veteran Alex Ainley, who has signed on for another year.
The front row is where there may be some change.
Josh Hohneck has gone to England and Ross Geldenhuys is not believed to be returning. His Tasman team-mate, Siosiua Halanukonuka, and Canterbury prop Siate Tokolahi are believed to be the tighthead prop options.
Southland prop Guy Millar is thought to be in the picture as well as Otago props Aki Seiuli and Craig Millar.
Daniel Lienert-Brown is expected back for his third year.
The future is not so clear for prop Brendon Edmonds, who seriously injured his knee in May this year. He has done some nerve damage which impacts further down his leg and may take up to a year to heal, if at all.
Hookers Ash Dixon and Liam Coltman are both back for next season, with Greg Pleasants-Tate expected to be on board again.
The team will start training at the end of the month, although it will be minus its All Blacks and Maori All Blacks.