They need to grab four points sooner rather than later to have any chance of featuring in the play-offs and will arrive in South Africa today knowing a win of any sort is the No 1 priority.
Judging by the results of the second round of the Super 14 over the weekend, a victory over the once lowly Cheetahs, whom the Highlanders face early Sunday morning (NZ time), is not going to be a walk in the park.
That fact is not lost on Moore, who said this year's competition was shaping up more even than ever.
"You just have to look at some of the results, which show you on any day, any side can beat anyone. There are no easybeats in this competition," Moore said.
"The Cheetahs have big strong forwards and speedy backs. If they get enough ball, they can be really punishing."
The Cheetahs won their first game away from home at the weekend, defeating the Sharks 25-20 in Durban.
The Highlanders were beaten 19-15 by the Blues at Carisbrook on Friday night, and the trip to Africa looms as make or break for the season.
Encouragingly, Moore's side has not been far away, as shown by a partially charged-down kick leading to a Blues try on Friday night, which changed the momentum in a tight game.
"That charge-down could have gone anywhere.
That was one of a couple of key moments which didn't go our way.
It is a fine line and if one of those moments had gone our way, who knows what would have happened?"But we've got to make the rub of the green go our way with the way we play."
The Highlanders stayed in Sydney last night before flying to Johannesburg today.
They are scheduled to move to Bloemfontein on Thursday for the Saturday afternoon game.
Under Sanzar rules, only 26 players can travel, so No 8 Nasi Manu and lock Joe Tuineau have stayed at home.
Manu has an injured knee and Tuineau is the unlucky player to miss out.
Mathew Berquist's hamstring has improved enough for him to travel, and his goalkicking expertise may see him return to the side.
Captain Jimmy Cowan had a twinge in a shoulder after Friday night's game and he had to have his face stitched but he should be available for the Cheetahs match.
After playing the Cheetahs, the Highlanders take on the Stormers in Cape Town and the following week will play the defending champion Bulls in Pretoria.
It is a difficult assignment, not helped by two of the games being at altitude, and all three are bound to be played in sweltering temperatures.
But Moore said he preferred to go to South Africa earlier in the season, despite the heat.
"The guys are a lot fresher and it is good to get away and get the guys together as one group.
If you go towards the end of the season it can become a bit of a drag."
He said most of the players had played at altitude and they were used to the conditions.
The Bulls maintained their perfect start to the season with a 50-32 win over the Brumbies in Pretoria and sit top of the table.
The Hurricanes are second after a 47-22 win over the Force, which now props up the table.
The strangest game of the weekend was the match between the Chiefs and the Lions in Johannesburg, in which 137 points were scored.
Both teams scored nine tries but the New Zealand side finished up on top, 72-65.
The Reds caused an upset, belting the Crusaders 41-20 in Brisbane on Friday night, while the Stormers pulled ahead of the Waratahs to win 27-6 in Cape Town yesterday.
