Challenges come and go for any team.
But some challenges are just a bit bigger and tougher than most. The Highlanders face one at Ellis Park in the early hours of tomorrow (NZ time).
Taking on a form South African side in front of a raucous home crowd is a major assignment for any side.
The Lions put 40-plus points past perennial contenders the Crusaders last week and are coming into some good form.
The side will have a big crowd behind them on what looks like a sunny afternoon on the hard surface of Ellis Park. So it is not going to be easy.
But this Highlanders side has gone up against the odds before and come out the other side smiling.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said the job against the Lions would require a side on top of its game and one willing to take all its chances.
"This is semifinals of Super rugby and we are playing a team which put 40 points on the Crusaders, which is not easy to do,'' he said.
"So they are running hot and we have come off an average performance. But we have put that behind us and we're really looking forward to the match. Players have prepared well and are ready for the game. Now we've just got to turn up and put it out on the park. That is the challenge ahead.''
The Highlanders had been playing intense games for the past couple of weeks which should help them against the Lions.
The Lions will have to make do without one of their best players, as captain Warren Whiteley has failed to recover from a calf strain he picked up in the win over the Crusaders.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann has picked his son, Ruan, to come into the back of the scrum and the captaincy has passed to blindside flanker Jaco Kriel.
Joseph expected the loss of Whiteley would hurt the Lions but the side was strong enough to still be just as competitive.
"He is a quality player and obviously, being the captain, he will be a loss for the Lions. But, having said that, this is Super rugby where you're always getting someone falling over two to three days out from a game.
"Another player would come in ... look at us for example, players playing really well when they have come in.''
The Highlanders have kicked the ball the most of the 18 teams in the competition through Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga and made the most tackles.
Joseph said the side often kicked early for territory and hung on to the ball in the later stages of the game.
"Every side I think has certain amount of unpredictability. What is unpredictable is predictable in a way. Some things in a game of rugby can be very different. Our game can change weekly so you have to be prepared for that. We have had a look at what the Lions do and we have to be ready for that.
"But we are lucky. We've got controlled, experienced players in key positions, nine, 10, at No8. I would like to think the players have played enough footy this year to take on what the Lions are going to come up with.''
Joseph said Liam Squire was ready to make a big impact off the bench and said it was a win-win scenario having both Squire coming off the bench and Luke Whitelock starting.
The side lost last year in Johannesburg to the Lions after giving up a big lead but Joseph said that was a round robin game played when the team was on tour. This week it was a one-off game.
Joseph said being away from home should not be an obstacle as it just brought teams closer together with fewer distractions.
The Highlanders need to start the game well and do the basics well, cutting out sloppy errors which plagued their game last week.
The side needs to keep nippy Lions halfback Faf de Klerk out of the game and use its match-winners such as Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo out wide.
It will be a rare day game for both teams, likely to be played in fine weather on a hard track.
