Pride. Honour. Dignity.
Big words, those, and they are what the two teams will be playing for at Westpac Stadium tonight.
The Highlanders still have the carrot of avoiding the wooden spoon but that is like getting a date with the prettier of the ugly sisters. Hardly anything to crow about.
The Hurricanes' playoff dreams went up in smoke with a loss to the Chiefs last week, so they also have little in competition terms to get excited about.
Tonight is all about saving face and getting a win.
In a week which has been all about the comings and goings of players, the Highlanders get the chance for 80 minutes to switch the focus back on to the field.
For many, it is also a grudge match. The likes of Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear and TJ Ioane have been part of the Wellington system or come from the Hurricanes area.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said that would give many an incentive to play well.
''We have had a few grudge matches this year,'' he said.
''A lot of our guys are born and bred in Wellington. Those home boys are going to relish that, playing in front of their own families.''
The Highlanders have won in their last two visits to Wellington so are out for the hat trick.
Rain, though, may spoil the party and scuttle either team's desire to spread the ball. Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for Wellington tonight and Joseph said that may force a change in game plan.
''The conditions do not look good and we will have to wait and see how that pans out. We don't have those conditions here [Dunedin] so we are going to have to prepare for them.
''We are a fine-weather team and have to be, really, but if it rains, it rains. It will be the same for both teams.''
Goal kicking is tricky at the best of times in Wellington and the forecast elements will just make it worse. Colin Slade has been far from perfect in the goal kicking department this season and must lift his success rate.
Joseph said his main focus remained on the field, getting the team prepared for the two remaining games - with the Rebels the season finale in Melbourne next Friday night.
But not far behind is the need to start planning for next season, as players eye spots for next year and switch jerseys.
Joseph acknowledged it was getting tougher to secure players.
''Player contracting is pretty aggressive, and it has been in the last couple of seasons, and more so this year. There is a lot more movement.
''I only seeing that heating up. Every player wants an opportunity to play Super Rugby. Only 15 get to play and you have got squads of 32 players. So that means there are about 10 grumpy guys every weekend and that is part of the whole managing job of being a head coach.''
Next year is surely the aim now for the Highlanders, and the likes of Colin Slade and Ioane can impress for contracts for next year.
This season has gone for the Highlanders - in fact, it left the building three months ago - so the motivation surely comes from within for the southerners.
With players leaving, it may well come down to how much they want to leave with dignity.
In last night's game in Christchurch, the Crusaders stunned the Chiefs 43-15 as the clash between New Zealand's two best teams turned into a one-sided affair.
Crusaders skipper Kieran Read was inspired, scoring two of the his side's five tries while Israel Dagg had his best game in a red and black jersey this season, APNZ reported.
Crusaders 43 (Kieran Read 2, Israel Dagg, Ryan Crotty, Tyler Bleyendaal tries; Carter 3 cons, 4 pens), Chiefs 15 (Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Charlie Ngatai tries; Andrew Horrell con, Aaron Cruden pen ). HT: 19-8.
