It has been a disrupted week for the Highlanders but now it becomes just about the men on the paddock.
No head coach, All Blacks coming and going, players missing; the Highlanders have been all over the place this week as they prepare to take on the Reds in Brisbane tonight.
For a side that prides itself so much in having a well-thought-out and detailed week of preparation, it has not been plain sailing.
But as has become the cliche of late, it is what it is, and the Highlanders have to just get out and beat the Reds tonight at a venue where they have not won for more than a decade.
Highlanders captain Ash Dixon, who will be without his co-captain Ben Smith this week, said the side knew it was going to be something of a mucky week.
"We knew at the start of the year this would play out and we have had to deal with it. We have had some new guys come in and lead and they have benefited from that," Dixon said.
Head coach Aaron Mauger had gone back to Christchurch for family reasons last Sunday and would not return for the game.
Mark Hammett has taken over as head coach and Dixon said though Mauger was not there, his energy was still with the team.
The side had a close look at its disappointing loss to the Waratahs last week and was not happy with what it saw.
The ball handling was average, Dixon said, and the side was still striving to play a complete game.
"The execution has not been good and that can be for a whole lot of reasons. We just understand we are not playing the best footy we can play. We are against a pretty determined Reds team."
Dixon admitted it felt a bit strange for him without Smith and his hooking rival Liam Coltman — both on All Black rest — but the hooker and the side just had to get on with it and push each other.
Both sides have had far from ideal build-ups. The Highlanders have had plenty of changes while the Reds have been rocked by the suspension of former skipper James Slipper for cocaine use.
Dixon said Slipper’s suspension should highly motivate the Reds and they would play a direct game.
All of a sudden, this game has become vital for the Highlanders. The poor performance against the Waratahs gave other sides around them a sniff and their next three games are all against New Zealand sides, so a hat-trick of victories will be tough.
The team has to play way better than it did last week and be more accurate. It has been living off scraps of possession and that simply will not last the rest of the season. Teams are getting better and more ruthless and defence can only go so far.
The return of Liam Squire and Richard Buckman, albeit from the reserves bench, should be a boost to the side and Squire will be itching for a crack.
The weather forecast is for partly cloudy conditions.
Otago Boys’ High School First XV is scheduled to play the curtain-raiser to the game, taking on Brisbane Boys’ College.
Highlanders v Reds
Brisbane, Saturday, 9.45pm
Highlanders: Josh McKay, Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Kayne Hammington, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Dillon Hunt, James Lentjes, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Ash Dixon (captain), Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli, Kalolo Tuiloma, Josh Dickson, Liam Squire, Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane, Richard Buckman
Reds: Hamish Stewart, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Jordan Petaia, Jono Lance, Ben Lucas, Scott Higginbotham (captain), George Smith, Angus Scott-Young, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, JP Smith. Reserves: Andrew Ready, Sef Fa’agase, Ruan Smith, Kane Douglas, Caleb Timu, Liam Wright, Moses Sorovi, Aidan Toua.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa).