For the Highlanders the onus is just on the next game. The panic button is far away.
Highlanders outside back Matt Faddes said yesterday for some not in the camp it might feel as if the season was on the line but it was simply still a game-by-game proposition.
"On the outside it seems like it is crunch time. But as a player it just feels like week in, week out. We are not really worried about the end of the competition. It feels like we have just started,'' Faddes said.
"There is plenty left to play in this season and we are only two points out [of the playoffs]. That is only one win. If you are focusing on the playoffs this far out from the end of the season then you're probably going to doom your season. We are not looking too far ahead.''
The Highlanders may have lost their last four games - including a nail-biting 31-28 loss to the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Friday night - but Faddes said the side was not far away and has been good enough to pick up bonus points for losing by such narrow margins.
"Friday's loss was tough to take. They [Hurricanes] are a very good side and they took their opportunities. We put it all out there and we gave it everything.
"There is not much in it. We did have opportunities to squeeze the win in there. It seems the same old message every week, just that final polish is not quite there at the moment. We should come into our own soon, hopefully,''
Faddes dismissed the suggestion that a slice of luck would have turned those four losses into four victories.
"You create your own luck. I suppose we have not been accurate enough at the crucial time. In a game you have probably got three or four key moments that you either win or lose. And if you are on the wrong side on that then it doesn't happen for you.
"We weren't too horrendous in our play. We really tried and threw everything at them.''
Faddes (27) played the first couple of games of the season for the Highlanders but then missed the last month as he got over some injury niggles.
He started last Friday night in place of the injured Waisake Naholo on the right wing.
With the injuries in the backline mounting, Faddes could be a chance to move into centre or even start at fullback but he was just happy to be getting out on the field.
He said despite the growing injury list the squad had plenty of depth and a solid leadership group.
The Crusaders had an impressive home record but Faddes said his side was working on plans to disrupt them on Friday night.