The Highlanders grabbed an upset 34-18 win over the Sharks in Durban on Saturday morning New Zealand time, sending the South African side to just its second loss of the season, and first defeat at home.
It was a fabulous win by the Highlanders, as most expected the Sharks to confirm their top-of-the-table status.
The side now heads to Cape Town to take on the bottom-of-the-table Stormers on Sunday morning.
Prop Matias Diaz has flown to South Africa to replace Craig Millar, who appeared to have picked up a shoulder injury late in the Sharks game, while winger Patrick Osborne damaged his ankle and is also on the plane home.
Osborne had already injured the ankle this season. No replacement back will fly to South Africa. Jason Emery and Trent Renata loom as options on the left wing this weekend.
The Highlanders will travel to Cape Town tomorrow with plenty of spring in their step after a top effort.
Joseph could not have been happier with the way his team did not back down against the misfiring Sharks and played for the whole 80 minutes.
''I'm pretty proud of the guys and the way they played,'' Joseph said.
''It is really difficult to come to South Africa and play. It doesn't matter who you play against - it is always going to be tough. But the guys played well and I'm really proud of them.
''The guys just stayed calm and even when we lost Joe [lock Joe Wheeler] to the sin bin, we really stood up and stayed strong.''
He said it was one of the best efforts by the Highlanders since he became coach in 2011.
''It feels like one of the best. Maybe that is because we had such a tough season last year. But you get a good feeling from the players and they have turned it on against the best team in the competition.
''I feel as though the team has created some belief. They have always had the potential to do something like this and we can grow from it.''
Joseph was reluctant to signal any player out in a complete team performance. The Highlanders now sit seventh on the ladder, outside the top six only on points differential. They are one of only two teams to have had both byes. No points are awarded for byes this year.
No New Zealand team is out of the running and derby matches may well decide the destiny of New Zealand sides.
The focus for the Highlanders will now switch to the Stormers.
The side rested in Durban over the weekend and will travel to Cape Town late tomorrow to begin preparations to take on the Stormers on Sunday morning.
A loss to the Stormers would waste all the good work against the Sharks, and Joseph and the team's senior players will be aware of that.
The Stormers lost their seventh game of the season when they were beaten 35-22 by the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Hurricanes moved to the top of the New Zealand conference with a 35-21 win over the Reds in Wellington, while the Force beat the Bulls 15-9 in Perth, in a match which was tryless.
