They have been beaten by the Highlanders in their previous three meetings, and have never won a match in Australia or New Zealand.
Their inspirational captain, Juan Smith, went home after overheating against the Reds during a hot, humid Brisbane afternoon.
And they are playing their last match on a tough five match winless tour.
So, in all reality, there should be only one result at Carisbrook today - a Highlanders win.
But rugby does not work like that. Teams can come from the outhouse to the penthouse within a week.
That fact is not lost on Highlanders coach Glenn Moore. His side may be raging hot favourites in the eyes of most pundits, but he is not buying into that line of thought.
"We've heard from over there that they have been targeting this game as the match of the tour to win," Moore said.
"We have not written them off at all. They have got a big forward pack, a strong line-out and some real pace out wide. It's not going to be easy."
Moore may provide the predictable line, painting every opponent as a real danger and the Cheetahs, if they are allowed to play well, are a side which does offer something. But simply, the Highlanders should and must win today, and win well.
Bagging five competition points would be the perfect answer to doubts which have surfaced in past weeks.
The side's attack had started well but has lost its way in the last couple of weeks, scoring only two tries in the last three games. The passes have not been quite accurate enough, the support player lacking at vital times.
The home side is down somewhat on confidence and this is the perfect match to recapture some of that.
Three of their four losses have been within five points but there has been too many errors at critical times to deem the side unlucky.
Wingers Ben Smith and Kendrick Lynn need to get in the game and score some points, and centre Jason Shoemark needs to set up his outsides better, as well as getting over the advantage line.
First five-eighth Mathew Berquist gets his first start and his job is to show some direction to the backline.
The backline was guilty of running too much across field last week and not making enough line breaks, so Berquist's ability to set the backs away will be under the microscope.
Moore said the side just wanted to be accurate, not turn off during the game, and eliminate crucial mistakes.
"Every game is a must win but we really need to win this one. We've got areas we want to attack. We've just got to be clinical with ball in hand and put them under pressure when they've got the ball."
Lock Tom Donnelly gets his first start for the season and the pressure will be on him, along with second row partner Josh Bekhuis, to secure some line-out ball.
The Cheetahs have a solid line-out and were all over the Hurricanes in that department, and like most South African sides are solid in the set piece.
But the Highlanders need to run them around, score early, and then turn the screws to keep their season hopes alive.
Showers are predicted and officials are hoping for a crowd of between 4000 and 5000.
Former All Black, and Dancing with the Stars contestant, Josh Kronfeld will dance with Rachel Burstein in front of the terrace at 5.15pm.
