The All Blacks halfback sprained his right elbow early in the season opener against the Brumbies but returned to play a crucial role in the hard-earned win over the Crusaders last weekend.
"I'm looking forward to running the boys out in front of my home crowd with the maroon strip on; it will be a special moment for me," he said.
"I'm sure we'll get the crowd in behind us and, if you get 10,000 into the ground in Invercargill, it gets very loud. We're looking forward to getting down there."
But Cowan knows it will not be easy to beat the Chiefs for the first time since 2003.
"We haven't beaten them for more than five years. That's a bit disturbing and it's something we're going to have to try to rectify this week.
"They've got some class players across the board.
"They've got good ball carriers, a big loose forward trio and plenty of threats in the backs. We're going to have to be on our guard to stop them. I imagine they'll play the game a bit wider than the Crusaders."
But Cowan was encouraged by what he has observed from his teammates, both as a spectator and from behind the pack.
"They've been working hard during the past month and it was good for them to finally get the rewards against the Crusaders.
"Their mood seems to be up this week and that's what winning does. It breeds confidence. There are quite a few new faces in the team but there are also a lot of guys back from last year who are wiser and more mature."
The Highlanders defence was outstanding against the Crusaders and Cowan said it would have to be similarly strong and well-organised against the Chiefs.
"Defence wins games these days and, if we can use it as an attacking weapon, I'm sure we'll reap the rewards.
"We've just got to hold on to the ball and get more continuity than we did last week. Those are our big work-ons at the moment."
Cowan played the full 80 minutes against the Crusaders -- something he said he was keen to do more often -- and had no discomfort from his elbow.
"The lungs probably weren't as good as I thought they would be but that was just a lack of match fitness.
"I hadn't played for three or four weeks and I'd had just the one hit-out in pre-season.
"It won't take me long to get back into the saddle. I was a bit rusty with my skill level but I don't think it will take too much match play to get back to my best."
Cowan, who turned 27 last week, has played 58 games for the Highlanders, 88 for Southland and 19 tests.
There are three changes to the side which beat the Crusaders, loose forwards Tim Boys and Steven Setephano and midfielder Johnny Leota replacing Alando Soakai, George Naoupu and Jayden Hayward.
Israel Dagg, who is recovering from a leg injury, has been bracketed at fullback with Ben Smith.
