Every New Zealand rugby fan assumes Jamie Joseph is the favourite — or at least in the top two — to become the new All Blacks coach.
That raises the question of whether one of his five assistants will be thrust into the role of Highlanders head coach for some of the season.
Dermody, Joseph’s most senior assistant who has already done two seasons in the club’s top coaching role, said it was business as usual at Highlanders headquarters.
"The good thing for us is we don’t really know," he said.
"We’ve just been going about our job, getting the Highlanders ready to go.
"It’s a good time of the year. It’s busy. We’ve got 50 players, and 30-odd are getting ready for a game.
"The days get filled up pretty quickly to be worried about that."
The game in reference is the Highlanders’ last chance to fine-tune ahead of a Super Rugby Pacific opener, against the Crusaders in Dunedin on February 13, that has loomed up awfully quickly.
They play regular preseason opponents Moana Pasifika in Queenstown tomorrow afternoon.
Some cavalry return after missing the four-quarter jaunt against the Crusaders in Timaru.
Halfback Folau Fakatava, outside backs Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens are all in the starting backline, and veteran lock Mitch Dunshea starts alongside utility Oliver Haig.
All Blacks tight forwards Ethan de Groot and Fabian Holland will see some action in the second half, as will incumbent co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai as he makes his comeback from a broken arm.
Top-shelf flanker Sean Withy has been named captain.
Selections which might or might not carry extra meaning include Jack Taylor starting at hooker and Cameron Millar named in the No10 jersey.
The Highlanders are getting close to a full deck of availability. Boom halfback Dylan Pledger was an early casualty, but exciting fullback Finn Hurley is out of a moon boot after his foot injury, and midfielder Jake Te Hiwi is back on the training field.
Classy No 8 Hugh Renton is training but with a limited load after his shocking injury run in 2025, and will likely be eased back in through the new development competition.
Dermody said the Highlanders were determined to start better in front of the Queenstown crowd than they managed against the Crusaders.
"We didn’t really get our preparation right for that game in Timaru.
"We sort of lumped into the preseason game against the Crusaders. We didn’t really adjust to playing into that wind, and to give the Crusaders a lot of ball like that is tough.
"We were just a bit off. It felt like we stayed on the bus for the first 40 minutes."
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika
Team: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Caleb Tangitau, Jonah Lowe, Tanielu Tele’a, Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Folau Fakatava, Nikora Broughton, Sean Withy (captain), TK Howden, Mitch Dunshea, Oliver Haig, Angus Ta’avao, Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett.
Reserves: Henry Bell or Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Rohan Wingham, Josh Tengblad, Fabian Holland, Will Stodart, Veveni Lasaqa, Lucas Casey, Adam Lennox, Nic Shearer, Reesjan Pasitoa, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Josh Whaanga, Taine Robinson.
