Sopoaga, who brought up his 50th cap for the Highlanders at the start of the season, said the Johannesburg-based Lions had strengths right throughout the team.
"They're pretty big, being a South African team. We'll find out how we go on Saturday but they're pretty direct and run pretty hard,'' he said.
"They're a quality set-piece team, big forwards, some pretty silky backs, a nine who is pretty sharp as well. They tend to throw the ball around and have some fun with it.
"They played an up-tempo game against the Chiefs and deserved their win, so they'll probably come down here under the roof and expect to throw the ball around a bit more, too.''
Sopoaga (25) said it was good to get on the board with a win and, hopefully, the side could use use that momentum to get a few more wins.
He was not getting too carried away on how he had performed after just two rounds in the competition.
"It's a long season, you know, so I'm not stressing out too much. There's a long way to go between now and the end of the year so I'll just build quietly ... hopefully, by game 10 or 11, there's a bit more consistency and I'm striking the ball a bit nicer.
"There's no need to start pushing panic buttons yet or worrying about things too much. It's a long old year and we'll just chip away.''
Sopoaga made his All Black debut last year and said he was just like any rugby player in New Zealand - he would love to play for his country.
But that was a way down the track. He just had to concentrate on each game as it came and on enjoying playing.
Meanwhile, Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown said the team was ahead of where it was last year and just needed to nail its execution.
The Lions on Saturday night at the stadium presented a big test for the Highlanders, Brown said.
"They are a little bit like a traditional South African team but a lot of it they are trying to play like a New Zealand team - very dangerous on the counterattack and turnover, with the ball in hand and have got threats everywhere. Then they have the scrum and maul threat that most South African teams have. They are going to be a massive challenge,'' Brown said.
Brown said Sopoaga was like the rest of the team - they know they can play better.
"When he is a running and kicking threat, he is one of the best in the world. What he proved last year is he is good enough to play international rugby.''
Brown said there were aspects of the side's kicking game which could have been better on Saturday night in the narrow win over the Hurricanes and kicks were not going where they were supposed to.
The only injury concern resulting from last week's game was second five-eighth Tei Walden, who was going through a concussion protocol after picking up a knock in the first half against the Hurricanes.
Should he not make it, either Jason Emery and Rob Thompson would come into the starting side.
