After hosting the improving Western Force in Auckland, the Blues head off on a three-match tour of South Africa.
"It's a long haul flight and there's nothing worse that sitting on a plane after a loss," Mealamu said.
"There's a lot of time to mull over it. Being able to get on a plane with a good result and feeling confident on the way over would be a good thing."
Defeat to the Stormers last weekend left the Blues' in eighth spot, eight points outside the top four and with their playoff hopes in the balance.
Mealamu accepted that his team's predicament meant finals football had come early, but there was plenty of belief in the camp that, with five matches to go, a semifinal spot remained "most definitely" a realistic target.
Against the Force, the Blues face having to do the job without most of their frontline tight five.
Anthony Boric's ankle problem means he joins fellow All Black lock Ali Williams, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in a trial match, on the sidelines.
Test props Tony Woodcock and John Afoa are both named in the starting line-up, but both face fitness tests on their neck and back respectively.
Mealamu backed replacements props Mike Reid and Tevita Mailau to step up if Woodcock and and Afoa were ruled out, saying they would bring plenty of excitement with them.
The All Black hooker said Boric's substitute, Filo Paulo, would add a physical presence that would make up for his lack of experience.
While the loss to the Stormers was a big disappointment after the impressive effort up front that brought victory over defending champions the Bulls a week earlier, Mealamu gave plenty of credit to the opposition.
"I don't think we can take anything from their pack," he said.
"Looking at the Stormers, they are probably the top South African side at the moment. We really wanted to come out and be physical against a team like that but sometimes the opposition turn up and are ready to match it as well."
Coach Pat Lam has made two other changes to his starting 15.
Tom Chamberlain comes in as openside flanker for Serge Lilo, who has been given a breather and drops out of the 22, while Benson Stanley, having recovered from concussion, slots in at centre for Rene Ranger, who goes to the reserves.
Ranger, normally a winger, has starred after being inserted at centre to fill a hole caused by injury.
Lam said second five-eighth Luke McAlister's return to action was a chance for him and Stanley to develop a midfield combination, while Ranger would deliver impact off the bench.
After beginning the season with six successive losses, the Force have strung together two wins, upsetting the Stormers in Perth and then putting six tries past the Highlanders in a 41-27 result at Queenstown, and Lam expected they would be brimming with confidence.
"They played well last week and the week before," he said.
"They'll certainly come here with high expectations."
