The injury toll is continuing to mount for the Highlanders, with hooker Jason Macdonald out for the rest of the season, after rupturing his Achilles tendon, and halfback Sean Romans on crutches after a nasty hamstring injury.
More than a quarter of the tickets for the test between the All Blacks and Wales have been snapped up, with Carisbrook set to be sold out for the third year in a row.
Highlanders prop Chris King will chalk up his 50th appearance for the side this afternoon, and says it has all gone in a blur.
As the Highlanders reflect on their seventh loss of the year, coach Glenn Moore will have to face his bosses in the next 10 days to review what is shaping up to be a forgettable season.
All Black and Highlanders loose forward Adam Thomson admits he will be looking at his options when his Otago contract comes up for renewal at the end of the season, although any move north could be scuttled by a change in the way contracts are handled.
The Highlanders have made just one change to the starting team to play the Force in Queenstown tomorrow, as the side looks forward to a rare day game.
The Highlanders are starting to come apart in a season which promised much and has delivered very little.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore lamented his side's dismal finish on Saturday but remains confident a victory is just around the corner.
Force captain Nathan Sharpe admits his side was slow out of the blocks this season but is starting to show a bit of consistency.
There will be more than one clash between international sides in Dunedin this year, as the city hosts the match between New Zealand and Australian schools in October.
It is out with the blue and in with the pink.
Erin Greene has had her share of ups and downs over the last year.
The Highlanders will be hoping it is third time lucky when they run out at the Queenstown Events Centre tomorrow.
Taking a risk paid off for Ben MacKinnon when he won his third national body boarding title near Gisborne over Easter.
In the end, it all came down to one pass.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan has leapt to the defence of his side's coaching staff, saying the players had to take responsibility for poor performances.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan will not use the word "desperate" in describing both teams' desire for a win tonight in Mt Maunganui, but he admits plenty is riding on the game.
The Super 14 has reached the halfway point and it appears the usual suspects are in contention. But who are the form players to make the All Black side? Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the candidates.
The rugged Central Otago landscape has helped draw greater numbers to the New Zealand Orienteering Championships over Easter.
New to the Highlanders and new to the ins and outs of professional rugby, John Hardie is finding every post a winner.
