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.
The Highlanders are not winning games in Dunedin and it seems visiting teams have no real love for the city either.
The opening round of premier club rugby will begin on separate days this week.
Poor at the start and average at the finish but the Highlanders did more than enough in the middle to win their first home game of the season.
Otago University, which has produced more All Blacks than any other club in the country, is struggling for numbers and says it is a victim of aggressive head-hunting by other clubs.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said his side knew it was under pressure this week but it was about how the players reacted to that pressure which would help them bag a win.
Highlanders star Ben Smith is happy to be playing on the wing and says he is trying to look for as much ball as possible.
Coaches say it all the time: every game is said to be a must-win.
Sam Hawke was supposed to be studying last week. Instead the 18-year-old was riding the wave of his life - a 12.5m monster off a reef in Tahiti.
Tickets for the Welsh test have gone on limited sale with the successful idea of exclusive sales to those in the South to be repeated.
Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid says the franchise is still waiting to hear from the council over where it will be re-located.
Jason Macdonald played his 50th Super 14 game on Saturday but says he and his team must treat every game now as the last one.
Some things go together: strawberries and cream, salt and vinegar.
Georgia will play Scotland in the first of three World Cup games in Dunedin next year.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan says his side just did not get the rewards for all the possession and territory it had on Saturday night.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore took something positive from his side's loss to the Bulls yesterday but says poor one-on-one tackling cost his side dearly.
Otago will get a dry run against Southland only weeks before it takes on the same side in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in August.
