Can the Highlanders overcome history again?

Aaron Smith will be part of a Highlanders team looking to defy history again. Photo / Getty

History has not been kind to the Highlanders.

From playoff ineptitude, heartbreaking losses and a slew of mid-table finishes, the history of the southern franchise is not something that often raises spirits.

History has also been proven to be irrelevant time and time again this season.

History would have suggested that the Highlanders didn't have much of a chance of making it to this stage in the competition, having not reached a semifinal in 13 years, and having not won a playoff game since 1999.

They proved that wrong.

History would show that a team with no international representatives in their forward pack would struggle to make inroads at this stage of the competition.

The Highlanders' inexperienced bunch has proven that to be a non-factor.

Now, the men from the south have to face what is arguably their toughest challenge yet - and are coming up against history once again.

The stats would suggest the Highlanders are significant underdogs against the Waratahs, despite arguably having a superior campaign to date, with the factor of being on the road a notable one.

The Highlanders have won just two of their last 16 games in Australia, a rather uninspiring figure which would give the Waratahs confidence coming into tonight's semifinal.

When the two sides met in Australia last season, the Waratahs were far too good, running out 44-16.

However, this Waratahs team isn't as dominant as last season's, and the Highlanders have proven to themselves that they can win on Australian soil - a tough place to play for every Kiwi team - by beating the Force 23-3 in their most recent trip down under.

It was the Highlanders' first win in Australia since 2011, and again signifies a simple point - history can only matter so much for this improved, talented team.

If the Highlanders can conjure up a win tonight, there'll be an additional scoreline added to the on-field score.

Highlanders 1, History 0