The draw for next year's Super rugby competition came out this week and the Highlanders are set to open their season with a home game against the Chiefs on February 24, followed by another home game a week later against the Crusaders.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said the squad for the 2017 season was pretty much locked in and there were only a couple of spots open.
Those would come from players performing well in the Mitre 10 Cup.
All the side's key players - halfback Aaron Smith, fullback Ben Smith, centre Malakai Fekitoa and loose forwards Liam Squire, Luke Whitelock and Elliot Dixon - are coming back next season and Clark said it was vital for the squad to have continuity from one season to the next.
``All Super rugby clubs are now in the same position. We all want to contract guys three to four years out. You want to have that continuity for the team.
``We've got a good core of guys there for next year.''
The side had 31 players signed by the end of its 2016 season.
Those who have departed include prop Josh Hohneck (England), lock Mark Reddish (England) and first five-eighth Marty Banks (Italy).
There are also doubts over whether the likes of winger Ryan Tongia, first five-eighth Hayden Parker and midfield back Rob Thompson will return. Prop Brendon Edmonds is also a doubtful starter after badly injuring his knee at the start of this season.
Clark said the search for new players was exhaustive and it was hard for a player to come out of nowhere.
Canterbury utility back Jordie Barrett was the subject of a tug of war involving the Crusaders, the Hurricanes and the Chiefs before deciding to sign for the Hurricanes, after seemingly emerging on to the national scene in a matter of three months.
``Everyone knows the good young players and they are monitoring them now. They'll be at the national under-19 tournament and will be picked up before they have started playing in the Mitre 10 Cup.
``You've got five clubs who have got really good recruitment programmes ... the talent identification is pretty phenomenal. You're got 14 provincial unions, five Super rugby franchises and that's not to mention all the other codes.''
Clark said the player market was always tough and only getting harder with interest from overseas clubs.
The recruitment process did not mean a late bloomer did not get a chance and he pointed to prop Kane Hames as an example of a player who came through the system at a late age.
Clark said the priority for the next few months was to prepare for the 2017 season and getting a coach for the 2018 season was not a major issue at the moment.
The team will be coached by Tony Brown, assisted by Scott McLeod and Mark Hammett, next season before Brown leaves to help coach the Japanese national team.
Various names have been thrown around as the next Highlanders coach but the franchise appears to be prepared to wait for a while before announcing a new coach.
