Highlanders fullback not relishing meeting with Chiefs

Highlanders fullback Ben Blair is certainly not relishing the prospect of taking on a desperate Chiefs side searching for points, after two heartbreaking Super 14 rugby losses in recent weeks.

The Hurricanes-Crusaders meeting on Saturday may be the match of the week, but for the Highlanders and Chiefs, their clash in a later match in Hamilton will be no less important.

Both teams are mid-table at the halfway point of the season -- the Highlanders are seventh and the Chiefs eighth.

The Chiefs in particular, with four losses, cannot afford to walk off Waikato Stadium with another defeat or their season will likely perish.

Blair is aware what Saturday's match means for the Chiefs who lost to the Crusaders 19-25 and last week to 2004 champions the Brumbies 26-28 despite dominating both games.

"The Chiefs will be desperate -- (but) we have to win this game as well because we have a few tough games coming up.

"We are not under any illusions -- going up to Waikato Stadium is always tough and the Chiefs have been playing pretty well -- they have not really been misfiring.

"It is going to be fast and physical when you play the Chiefs on their home ground," he predicted with certainty.

Since 2001, the Chiefs have lost just once to the Highlanders and Blair knows that the boys in blue will have to pull another blinder, defensively, out of the hat on Saturday.

Powerhouse All Blacks backrower Sione Lauaki is at the heart of a humming Chiefs pack while twinkle toes winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is showing signs of recapturing his defence-shredding 2005 form.

"Sioane Lauaki is playing pretty well -- he's a massive man and one of their key players," Blair said.

"We have to shut him down -- he's a real physical presence and gets them out of trouble with his size."

Sivivatu conjured a hat-trick in a five-try first half blitz by the Chiefs that snuffed the Highlanders' Super 12 playoff hopes last season.

"Sivivatu tied up the Highlanders last year so we just have to shut down his time and space and try and deny him the ball," recalled Blair of the 8-31 hammering at Waikato Stadium.

Last week, the Highlanders forwards produced a gut busting defensive effort against the Cats to avoid the embarrassment of being beaten by possibly the Super 14's worst team.

Blair, describing the 16-14 win as a dour match, said another big effort from his forwards would be needed.

"The forwards really stood up (last week) and although we didn't get a lot of ball and we didn't play great rugby, they tackled their hearts out and showed a lot of guts and commitment -- it was good to watch," said Blair.

"Hopefully we can get things going a bit more among the backs this weekend but we'll need to get some good ball.

"The forwards have got to get a platform for us to go wide out and we need it this weekend."

- NZPA