The side broke up yesterday for two weeks of family time, Christmas treats and some personal training before coming back together on January 6.
Then it will be 11 days of work before the opening pre-season match of the year, against the Waratahs in Sydney on January 17. A week later the side faces the Crusaders in Wanaka for its second and final pre-season game.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett said everyone involved with the Highlanders was fully aware of what was ahead for the team.
"That is right in the front of our minds.
"These first three weeks have been really worthwhile and we are really happy with the guys, not just physically . . . but in a rugby perspective.
"We have been doing a heck of a lot with the ball in our work, with a high intensity on the field. Time is so much shorter this year, as the competition kicks off earlier. When we come back we have got a week and a-half and then we are into a game."
Assistant coach Tony Brown has re-joined the Highlanders after a couple of years away and Hammett said Brown had really put his stamp on the team.
"He is a passionate Highlanders man through and through. He is a really good coach and having him and Azza [head coach Aaron Mauger] on both sides of the field means we are doing some really good things during pre-season."
Pre-season was a good way to get the team closer together, Hammett said, as the players did the hard labour of getting fit and building a base for the season.
All Blacks in the team were due back to training in the middle of January, although Aaron Smith and Liam Coltman had already shown their faces and will be ready to get involved. All All Blacks are available for the first round.
There will be the usual limited minutes for the All Blacks in the opening rounds and rest games enforced on them during the season.
The Highlanders have a bye in the first round before the opening game against the Sharks on February 7 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
New boy and prop Jeff Thwaites has an injury to his foot and could miss the start of the season. Tasman prop Isaac Salmon has been called in as cover and has impressed, Hammett said.
The side was supposed to finish training yesterday afternoon with some time at St Kilda Beach but poor weather forced players to train at the gym instead.