Saunders has been drafted in from the Highlanders wider training group and has been training with the team for the past two weeks.
‘‘Matt is an experienced player at this level. He knows the Highlanders environment well and will fit into the squad,'' Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said yesterday.
Saunders did not have his Otago contracted renewed at the end of last season and was subsequently signed by Southland for 2008.
Injury concerns in the Highlanders loose forward division continue, with No 8 Steven Setephano and flanker Alando Soakai both ruled out of Friday night's game against the Lions at Carisbrook.
Setephano (calf) and Soakai (broken nose) will be out for at least two weeks.
A decision on a replacement for No 8 Ezra Taylor would be made before the Highlanders leave for South Africa in two weeks, Moore said.
