Flanker Alando Soakai will be the next injured Highlander to book an early flight home from South Africa.
Soakai, who has already missed two games this season with a badly broken nose, is now nursing a knee injury which has flared up following last weekend's loss to the Stormers.
"My nose is fine but the knee's come up and I'm feeling a bit broken at the moment,'' Soakai said from Cape Town yesterday.
"If I don't pull through the next training I'll be heading home in the next couple of days.''
The Highlanders have already sent Daniel Bowden (concussion), James Wilson (hip) and Steven Setephano (calf) home.
Wider squad players Blair Stewart, Glen Horton and George Naoupu have gone the other way as replacements, but there is not enough time to get another loose forward over for Saturday's game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
"It's been pretty tough on the coaching staff, having all these injuries to deal with. But at the same time it's good to see some new faces arrive,'' Soakai said.
Tim Boys will presumably start at openside flanker for the Highlanders, with Craig Newby and Adam Thomson completing the loose trio and Naoupu on the bench.
The Highlanders have not yet gained a point from their African safari, and the game against the Cheetahs could be vital to their hopes of a more respectable finish on the table.
Soakai said any game in Africa was tough and the Highlanders were not foolish enough to think they could stroll into Bloemfontein and take the points.
"We know the Cheetahs won't be easy. They've been a bit like us in that they've lost quite a few games by a small margin.
"This game is absolutely huge for us and I think everybody knows that. We're at the stage where one game is pretty much going to determine where we finish this season.
"It's exciting to finish with games against the Blues and the Crusaders, but we really need to get this one under our belt first.''
Soakai, one of the more experienced players in the squad, hopes the Highlanders will finish the season strongly.
"We've gone out there every week to play to the best of our ability and win games, and I guess it just hasn't happened.
"It's been a tough season. We've lost to some good teams and lost other games in the last 5min.
"Now it's about going out and proving to ourselves that we are good enough to win.''
One consolation for Soakai has been the form of his club side, Kaikorai, which is leading the Dunedin competition.
The Highlanders remained in Cape Town after the Stormers game and will travel to Bloemfontein today.
