But the Highlanders need to buck a worrying trend if they are going to come out on top in a vital match against the Reds in Brisbane tonight.
In their last 10 visits to Australia, the Highlanders have bagged just one win. And that was over a very average Rebels team three years ago.
The Highlanders have also been on the wrong end of the scoreline against the Reds in recent years when playing in Queensland.
Their last victory against the Reds in Australia was in 2005.
So, the weight of history is against the Highlanders. But the game is won out on the field and not in past deeds and the record book.
Form and motivation are firmly in the Highlanders' corner, and the visiting team will face a home team on the slide.
The Reds were fancied to be right in the mix come playoffs this season but the wheels have well and truly fallen off. They have lost their last six games and will be without the services of playmaker Quade Cooper, who is out for four months with a shoulder injury.
But many of those losses have been very close. The luck does not appear to have run the Reds' way this season. That eventually turns, and the Highlanders will be hoping it does not start tonight.
The Highlanders are still very much in the playoff equation and this game is a carrot they need to grab.
Other sides around the Highlanders on the competition ladder are playing against each other. Some are going to fall behind. That is why the Highlanders must win this match, win it well and go into the June test window and the three-week break in a good frame of mind.
Their attack has looked potent at times this season. They will look to continue that tonight, and must find the tryline.
The likes of Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa have been in fine attacking form, and every chance that comes along must be taken.
The Reds have conceded 19 tries in the past four games so there is some defensive frailty there.
The Highlanders will be looking to exploit that and use their continuity game against a Reds side which is green in some areas.
The Highlanders trained in Brisbane yesterday but were not allowed on to Suncorp Stadium as the ground will have three games inside six days, following the State of Origin match on Wednesday night.
The Broncos take on Manly at the venue on Sunday afternoon.
The Highlanders have made three changes to their starting team, all in the forwards.
Hooker Liam Coltman is over a calf injury which ruled him out of last week's close loss to the Crusaders and his energy will be appreciated. Ma'afu Fia comes into the tighthead role, ahead of Chris King, who moves to the reserves.
Gareth Evans swaps places with Elliot Dixon in the loose forwards as the Dunedin man gets a start. Evans has looked good coming off the bench in past weeks while Dixon had a quiet game against the Crusaders.
The match will be Reds halfback Will Genia's 100th game for Queensland.
Highlanders v Reds
Brisbane, tonight, 9.40pm
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Richard Buckman, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), Shane Christie, Gareth Evans, Joe Wheeler, Jarrad Hoeata, Ma'afu Fia, Liam Coltman, Kane Hames. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Chris King, Matias Diaz, Tom Franklin, Elliot Dixon, Fumiaki Tanaka, Hayden Parker, Phil Burleigh.
Reds: Mike Harris, Dom Shipperley, Ben Tapuai, Anthony Fainga'a, Rod Davies, Ben Lucas, Will Genia, Jake Schatz, Beau Robinson, Curtis Browning, James Horwill (captain), Rob Simmons, Greg Holmes, James Hanson, James Slipper. Reserves: Andrew Ready, Albert Anae, Sef Faagase, Dave McDuling, Liam Gill, Nick Frisby, Samu Kerevi, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia).