Jamie Joseph is not one to mince words.
So when asked yesterday for his goal for next season, the answer left no-one in doubt.
"How we go about doing that will be discussed when the players come and join us in December. But that is certainly our goal."
The 31-man squad had been well signposted in recent weeks and the only late additions were winger Declan O'Donnell, a discard from the Chiefs, and Southland No 8 Elliot Dixon, who continues in the side after two injury-plagued seasons.
Seven members of the side have been named in the All Black touring squad to the northern hemisphere this month.
Experienced hooker Andrew Hore is the new captain, taking over from Jamie Mackintosh, who is one of seven Southlanders in the squad. Hosea Gear has been named as the vice-captain.
Otago supplies six players to the squad. Star flanker Adam Thomson, as expected, has not been picked and his future remains uncertain.
The squad has plenty of depth, and Joseph said it was now the coaches' job to harness that talent.
"We are in a position now that they have to fight for game time.
Generally, when that happens you get a really good team because it is really competitive.
"To use a boxing analogy, if anyone drops their guard, they get smacked on the chin. As coaches, we have got to ensure that competition is vibrant but also healthy. What our job is is to get the best out of the team and not necessarily keep everyone happy."
He said depth always depended on injuries.
"I thought we had great depth last year but injuries meant we did not have that depth. We had nine guys out for the first five rounds . . . if we have 36 all fit and ready to go in June, then we will be right."
Hore was a clear fit as captain, Joseph acknowledging Mackintosh was no longer certain to start.
"I suppose the inclusion of Tony Woodcock and the inability to guarantee game time every weekend meant that we had to get a different captain.
"Horey [Hore] for us is quite a natural leader - from down here, captained the All Blacks - it was pretty obvious."
Gear was keen to be vice-captain, a new role, and wanted to contribute in a leadership role, Joseph said.
Naming a team which should be in top-six contention was a world of difference from when Joseph arrived two years ago when just eight players were signed up for the franchise.
"I guess the most exciting thing about the Highlanders going forward is where we have come from and where we are now.
"We are only halfway along in the competition. We have not done so much on the scoreboard and that is the goal. We need to start performing better at the right end of the season."
With a dozen past or present internationals in the team, expectations are raised, but Joseph was comfortable with this.
"At the moment, there is not too much pressure because we have not played yet. But all of us as coaches have played at the top level and experienced pressure and that is why we get involved now."
Joseph will be joined by Jon Preston and Scott McLeod in his coaching team, and both are looking forward to the challenge.
McLeod said he was looking to offer a new perspective for the players but would not be making change for change's sake.
Preston, who is stepping away from commentary duties to take on coaching, said it was new territory for him but he was looking forward to it. He was keen to get involved in coaching fulltime and be able to help players for a decent period of time.
The addition of Brad Thorn was a boost for the side and his professionalism would be important at the business end of the season, Joseph said.
"He's had a couple of seasons off playing in Japan. When I saw him a few weeks ago, he was the athlete he always was. He wants to come back, to bring that experience.
"Another reason why we have dropped off towards the end is that we got there and thought, do we really believe we are contenders for that championship?
This guy here [Thorn] has won nine championships in different codes."
Five players are expected to be named in a wider training squad by the end of this month and the squad, minus its All Blacks and Maori All Blacks, will assemble in early December.
The team's first pre-season game is against the Chiefs in Taupo on February 2, with the first competition game against the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 22.
Highlanders
Draw for 2013
• February 22: v Chiefs, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Bye
• March 8: v Cheetahs, Invercargill
• March 15: v Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• March 22: v Chiefs, Hamilton
• March 29: v Reds, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• April 5: v Blues, Auckland
• April 12: v Brumbies, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• April 20: v Crusaders, Christchurch
Bye
• May 4: v Sharks, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• May 11: v Kings, Port Elizabeth
• May 18: v Bulls, PretoriaMay 25: v Force, Perth
• June 1: v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• June 29: v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium
• July 6: v Hurricanes, Wellington
• July 12: v Rebels, Melbourne
