The British and Irish Lions, buoyed by a gutsy win over the Crusaders last Saturday, know a win tonight will keep the confidence building as big games loom.
But a loss will throw up all those self-doubts and criticism floating around before the match in Christchurch.
For the Highlanders, on the other hand, a win will be another chapter in a franchise which has had a great past four years.But a loss will give a heavy feeling to a side which is about to embark on a short break.
The home team is the underdog — it is stripped of nine of its best players, and does not have the international class of its opponent.
But the underdog status sits well with the side and it knows how to play at the stadium — where speed and tempo is king — and it will leave nothing in the tank tonight.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett said the game was about the side delivering its best and the game was obviously special.
"Every team, certainly us more so, want to play with tempo. But in reverse in defence, everyone wants to slow things down," he said.
"So we have got to get the detail about our carry and our clean-out to be really accurate and all things around getting up quicker than the opposition, being more aggressive, and that is all in the planning, what we have been working hard on. Whoever does that the best will get the quicker ball."
Players such as Lima Sopoaga, Kayne Hammington and Alex Ainley will be all-important.
Past players and coaches John Leslie, David Latta, Tony Gilbert and Tom Donnelly had all come and visited the squad to talk about the Lions matches over past years. They highlighted the need to make the most of the opportunity to play them.
The scrum is bound to be important. Hammett said the scrum last Saturday night was well officiated and he had no issues. He felt the Highlanders scrummaged slightly differently from the Crusaders.
Lions assistant coach Andy Farrell said the defensive display shown last Saturday night needed to be repeated.
"I think the Highlanders have scored 50-odd tries this season. We know the type of game they want to play — high-paced, breakneck speed type of game," Farrell said.
"An attacking kicking game that is very threatening so we have it all on. From a defensive point of view. Defence can only be as strong as the plan. I think our game management was outstanding on Saturday ... the most pleasing thing, was keeping them to three points and keeping our discipline. We got better throughout the game.
"We are bearing the fruits of the past three weeks ... we are ready to get battle-hardened in training, contact wise. We have got to get up to breakneck speed for the first test."
The most important person in this match will — unfortunately, depending on your take on the game — be the man with the whistle, Angus Gardner.
He must let the scrum be a contest, control the offside line strictly and, most importantly, let the two sides play.
The surface will, thankfully, suit a running game.
Now all we need is two sides set on delivering that.