From the very cold to the very hot: Highlanders take on the Chiefs in Fiji

Waisake Naholo, with teammates Aki Seiul and Aaron Smith, will turn out for the Highlanders at this weekend's showdown against the Chiefs in Fiji. Photo / Getty Images

A sizzling game of rugby - that is what Highlanders and Chiefs fans will be hoping for in tonight's Super Ruby showdown in Fiji.

But spare a thought for players from rival teams - with one leading sports doctor saying some players could lose at least 1kg of weight during the match in the humid paradise of the Pacific.

Players from both sides touched down in Fiji late this week, ahead of tonight's clash in Suva.

With the change of scenery comes a weather culture shock - with temperatures topping 30C during the day, and expected to be at 24C come game-time tonight.

In comparison, temperatures in Dunedin this week have been around the 11 and 12C, and around 4C at night-time; a temperature the side is used to while playing at home in winter.

Hamilton temperature highs have gone up to 13C this week, with overnight lows dropping to a teeth-chattering -1C.

South Auckland GP and sports doctor Dr Anae Neru Leavasā - who has been a team doctor for several sports teams in New Zealand and around the Pacific; including for the Auckland Blues development team and Manu Samoa - said teams preparing to go from a very cold to a very hot and humid environment, players would prepare by training or exercising in climate-controlled rooms that imitated the conditions they were heading to..

Highlanders vs Chiefs in a #SuperRugby battle in Suva, Fiji 🇫🇯 🏉 #travel #Fiji #rugby @Highlanders pic.twitter.com/1vwSDpbOrC

— Sportopia Travel (@sportopiatravel) June 21, 2018

"Or riding a bike in a spin room and putting the heater on - trying to mimic the conditions - that's one way.

"But we also need to mimic the actual physical part of it as well. Trying to hit rucks and trying to do these skills sets that these guys will be doing in a larger room."

Dehydration was a big worry and therefore, players' weight and fluid loss were closely monitored in the build-up to matches in the Pacific.

"We've got to know who our sweaters are. Everyone's hydrating at a different level, so with the humidity in Fiji being over 70 per cent, we target the ones who are losing more than 1kg of their weight after their 80-minute game time.

"We allocate which ones are needing more electrolytes, more water. If someone's losing a kg of weight, we need to top up a kg of fluids - making sure that half of that is pure electrolyte and the other half is pure water.''

He said weight loss was usually used as a guide to fluid loss.

Some athletes could have a sweat rate of up to 2.5L per hour depending on the heat, humidity, sport duration and intensity. "

A sudden loss of weight via fluids during a match could impair players' cognitive function, as well as see them drop their aerobic performance.

Tonight, ice provided for players on the sidelines and towels put in ice ready for them as they came off, to cool them down.

HIGHLANDS vs CHIEFS IN FIJI:

• 7.35pm Sat, June 30, ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji. • 24C forecast, some showers.
• 73% humidity.
• 40% precipitation.
• Up to 1kg weight loss and fluid loss in 80-min match.
• 2.5l the sweat rate per hour of some players.