So what if they only won four out of 14 round-robin games?
None of that will matter at Eden Park on Saturday night. It is a one-off match and anything can happen.
That is how Highlanders flanker Billy Harmon is viewing his side’s quarterfinal against the Blues.
"It would have been nice to get a nice win [against the Rebels] and gather a bit of moment going into the [playoffs]," he said.
"Our goal at the start of the season was to make these finals and have a crack at winning the championship, so that’s what we have.
"What has happened ... does not really matter now. It is do or die for everyone, so we will just go all in this week."
The team will be named today, but there will be some missing faces. First five Mitch Hunt and fullback Connor Garden-Bachop have been sidelined with concussion and are going through return-to-play protocols.
Utility Sam Gilbert is out after coping a five-week suspension for a tip tackle.
Experienced loosie James Lentjes is also under an injury cloud. He picked up an injury against the Rebels and assistant coach Clarke Dermody did not sound particularly hopeful he would recover in time.
The good news is Shannon Frizell made a promising return to rugby last weekend. He injured his knee in early April but impressed in a 40-minute cameo for Taieri in the club competition.
That has raised the prospect of the Highlanders fielding a power-packed loose forward trio of Harmon, Frizell and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u.
The trio have not all fronted at the same time for the Highlanders this season, but that could change on Saturday.
"When Marino and Shannon are in form, they are some of the best in New Zealand, if not the world. Marino has been playing real well lately.
"Hopefully we can build off that momentum and perform on the weekend."
