The season is long, after all - there are still 15 rounds to go after tonight - so all will not be lost should either the Highlanders or the Hurricanes come out on the wrong end of the scoreboard at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
There is still plenty of water to flow under the bridge for both teams.
But wins make a week so much more enjoyable, while a loss hovers around like a bad smell until the next match.
Teams talk about processes and performances and the result being a by-product of that but when it comes down to it, the game is about winning and losing.
At this level, participation does not count.
Doubled with this is the spectre of the final last year, when the Highlanders won the title in Wellington.
The Highlanders should go into the match with some semblance of confidence.
It just went down to a rejuvenated Blues side in Auckland, but with a slice of luck could have come out the victor.
The Hurricanes side, on the other hand, was smashed 52-10 by the Brumbies in Canberra, being exposed defensively by a slick Australian outfit.
A beating does give a side motivation to come back well next week but it also puts doubt in players' heads and raises the question of whether the side can perform under pressure.
Highlanders co-captain Shane Christie expects the Hurricanes to bounce back from their Canberra experience and come out firing.
"They are an awesome team. They will be pretty hungry after that performance, which probably is not that good for us,'' he said.
"But we're looking for a good start for the season and we have prepared well this week.''
The Highlanders need to fix their work at the breakdown.
They were heavily penalised by referee Glen Jackson last week and have the same man tonight.
Christie said the side needed to find the standard set by Jackson and then stick to it.
"We just got a bit excited and too eager. The ref gave us a couple of obvious penalties and that is just the way it is.
"[Having him again] is a good thing. We have had him last week and got on the wrong side of him quite a few times.
"This week gives us another chance to improve on what we did last week. It is frustrating when you get four or five penalties in a row but you just have to work on it.''
Jackson was tough on the Highlanders last weekend but that came back to the side not having enough ball.
Under the rules of the game it is very hard to get a turnover and sides may have to withdraw more at the breakdown and focus on the defensive line.
That does not always make for a great spectacle and takes away from the essence of what rugby is - a contest for possession.
The Highlanders will be looking to start strongly in the game tonight.
Luke Whitelock will want to make the most of his opportunity at No8 and the Highlanders tight five has plenty to play for.
The game has lost some of its firepower with outside backs Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder scratched from the proceedings.
Naholo dropped out earlier in the week because of a broken leg, which will keep him out for two months.
Milner-Skudder has not recovered from bruising to his leg picked up in the loss to the Brumbies and was ruled out yesterday.
He is replaced by James Marshall.
The Highlanders have brought in Matt Faddes for Naholo and though he has big shoes to fill, he has the speed and skills to play well.
