Usually, when the Crusaders come to Dunedin, there is a rather sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach that the perennial champions will be far too classy for their southern neighbours.
But these are not your usual Crusaders — they lost to the Reds in Christchurch for the first time since 1999 at the weekend — and these are Highlanders feeling much better about themselves after a solid 28-17 win over Moana Pasifika in atrocious conditions in Tonga on Saturday.
"It will be another step up", Dermody said from Nuku’alofa.
"I’m sure it will start to get reported how many games we haven’t won against New Zealand teams, so there’s that going on.
"But I feel like we’re sort of starting to get our game going again. It will be a good test for us against the Crusaders."
That losing run in derby games is an ugly 19.
But if the Highlanders play against the struggling Crusaders like they did in the islands on Saturday, they are a fair chance of following the Southern Steel’s lead and breaking an unwanted streak.
"I think both teams did well", Dermody said after the Highlanders sealed victory over Moana Pasifika.
"It was really tough. That wasn’t normal rain — it was coming down pretty heavy.
"There were always going to be a lot of errors, but I feel like both teams did the best they could to make the occasion memorable as well.
"I think, by and large, we are just pleased we executed our plan, which was to put them under pressure and create opportunities that way."
Super Rugby took a game to Tonga for the first time and it was obvious what it meant to the Pacific nation.
Conditions might have been shocking, but the 10,000-strong crowd did not stop smiling and singing, cheering both the home team and a Highlanders side containing proud Tongan men Folau Fakatava and Saula Ma’u.
"It’s been an awesome couple of days, right from when we arrived", Dermody said.
"The welcome, being able to experience a lot of Tongan culture, going to Folau’s school, and being able to witness just the joy that bringing the game over here has brought.
"Sir Michael Jones talked to us before the game and welcomed us on behalf of Moana Pasifika.
"He said it had been 30 years trying to get a game here, so it would be nice to see it continue for them."
Highlanders winger Connor Garden-Bachop left the field in Tonga after sustaining a cut and failing HIA protocols, so will be assessed further in Dunedin.
Garden-Bachop had four clean breaks in arguably his best game in a Highlanders jersey to match outstanding performances from outside backs Timoci Tavatavanawai and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and No 8 Billy Harmon.
The buzz, though, was the class under pressure shown by young first five Cameron Millar in a breakthrough performance.
"Cam did what was needed because it wasn’t a game to over-play", Dermody said.
"I thought he controlled things really well with his kicking. He was good off the tee as well. It was another step forward for him."
The Highlanders are up to seventh in Super Rugby, just two points ahead of the Fijian Drua but five clear of ninth-placed Moana Pasifika.
The Drua gave the Brumbies a decent scare before falling 28-20 in Canberra.
It was one-way traffic in Hamilton, where the Chiefs thumped the Force 56-7, and good times for all non-Crusaders fans in Christchurch, where the fifth-placed Reds triumphed 33-28.
