The side will take on a Bulls team light on experience and on a run of form which reflects its lowly position on the table.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown said the side had the incentive of setting a record of seven wins in a row in a season with victory over the Bulls.
"The Highlanders teams in the past were a bit afraid of making a statement. But we’re about to make history with seven wins in a row," Brown said.
"That comes from our leadership group. That want to win well, they want to be the first team which will win seven games in a row.
"I think that sort of statement is a sign of a quality team, a quality leadership group, who want to break records.
"You look at the guys we have got — Ash Dixon, Ben Smith, Luke Whitelock, Elliot Dixon — you’ve got the vice-captain of the All Blacks. They do not just want to play good footy, they want to win well. Be the best Highlanders side from the Otago, Southland, North Otago region."
Brown said it was a pleasure to coach a team with such goals, although coaching a team when it was winning was easy.
The Highlanders sit fourth in the New Zealand conference and seventh overall.
The Crusaders are first overall and sit 14 points ahead of the Highlanders on 46 points. The Chiefs sit on 42 and the Hurricanes have 38 points.
The Highlanders, on paper, have the easiest run home although Brown said they probably could not afford to drop another game.
Brown predicted the Hurricanes would beat the Crusaders tonight, saying the Red and Blacks would find it too tough to overcome the long haul back from Africa.
The Crusaders probably have the toughest road home, playing four New Zealand sides in their remaining five games.
The Bulls, sitting 12th on the table, are a shadow of what they once were. The side taking on the Highlanders has limited experience and is a clear illustration of how far the game in South Africa has fallen.
Only halfback Piet van Zyl and prop Trevor Nyakane have played more than 50 games at this level.
Experienced hooker Adriaan Strauss has a foot injury and is waiting to undergo scans.
But the home side will be motivated to do well, fuelled by the disappointing performance last week when it conceded 10 tries to the Crusaders.
The home crowd walked out early during that game, so if that does not drive a home side, nothing will.
The Highlanders last played in Pretoria in 2013, losing 35-18.
The forecast for Pretoria is gloomy, with showers forecast for the afternoon.
Highlanders v Bulls
Pretoria, tomorrow, 1.05am
Highlanders: Matt Faddes, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Marty Banks, Aaron Smith, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Ash Dixon (captain), Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Joe Wheeler, Jackson Hemopo, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Tei Walden
Bulls: Warrick Gelant, Jade Stighling, Jesse Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Hanro Liebenberg (captain), Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka. Reserves: Edgar Marutlulle, Pierre Schoeman, Coenraad van Vuuren, Lood de Jagar, Nick de Jager, Rudy Paige, Tony Jantjies, Jan Serfontein.
Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
Key Highlanders man
Gareth Evans: Evans will start his first game at No8 for the Highlanders and will want to impose himself. He likes to play wide and has some genuine pace which should be suited for to hard ground at Pretoria. He will be expected to cart the ball up and get involved in some confrontations.
Key Bulls man
Jesse Kriel: At the start of the season, Kriel was one of a set of young backs the Bulls were expecting to make a mark in the competition. But injury and a loss of form has resulted in many of them being sidelined. Kriel is a quality runner and carries the ball well but his defensive duties will be examined.