Joseph's Highlanders are clocking up a horror year, having recorded just one win from 12 games.
Tomorrow night, they face a desperate Blues side, which knows another loss will mean its playoff hopes are hanging by a thread.
Joseph says the Blues should go into the contest as favourite.
''They have lost their last couple of matches so they are playing for their season in many ways. They are getting into that difficult position: fifth, seventh or eighth.
''We have been there before ourselves and know the sort of pressure that comes with it. They'll want to come down here and want that trophy [Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy],'' he said.
With their wretched record, Joseph, who has a contract until the end of next season, says the pressure is just the same as ever.
''I think we have been under pressure all season and that is part of coaching. I felt that pressure last year and the year before. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes. We just have to work harder for longer.''
The trophy, which is held by the Blues, means something to Joseph, who was coached by Hunter.
Joseph said the late Hunter was a dear friend of his and he would play for him tomorrow night if he could.
''He was a type of coach who we all wanted to play for. He was incredibly honest and straight-up. He was very personable as a coach. Personally, he brought me through. I played for Otago B under Gordy for a couple of seasons before graduating to the A side under him.''
The Highlanders had a limited training week, getting some family time and being snowed out, but coming off a winless three-week tour, feet up on the couch is not necessarily a bad thing.
They will not name their side until today once injuries are assessed.
One promising sign was right winger Kade Poki training yesterday and he could be included after missing the trip to South Africa.
If not, Waikato outside back Trent Renata may get a run.
The Blues have brought back Steven Luatua, who missed the loss to the Brumbies last week.
However, there is doubt about his loose forward colleague, Luke Braid, who is struggling with a thigh injury picked up in training.
Keven Mealamu goes back to the bench and James Parsons comes into the starting side.
First five-eighth Chris Noakes, who has played a lot of rugby in Dunedin, is absent because of a family illness while winger George Moala has been dumped due to missing a team protocol.
