KEY POINTS:
The Highlanders are paying no attention to the hype surrounding former South African captain Bobby Skinstad's return to Super 14 rugby when they take on the Sharks in Durban on Sunday morning (NZtime).
They are focused on improving their performance after a disappointing 6-11 loss to the Lions in the second round last weekend after starting their Super 14 season with an 8-7 win over the Western Force in Perth.
Highlanders winger Matt Saunders has fond memories of their 43-7 win over the Sharks in Durban two years ago.
"Everything clicked last time we were here (in 2005), and hopefully that happens again.
"It's quite good playing in Durban so if we can put another performance like that on the park it'll be quite good."
That day, Ben Blair scored 28 points from three tries and five conversions with further tries to Seilala Mapusua, Jimmy Cowan and James Ryan.
Saunders is in no doubt how important Sunday's match is to the Highlanders' campaign.
"If we lose, we'll be a bit behind the eight ball -- every game is a must win but this one's doubly important (to come home with two wins from three on their road trip).
The Highlanders's handling was embarrassing at times against the Lions and Saunders said rectifying that had been the team's focus this week.
"We dropped ball far too much and you can't have continuity when you keep losing the ball.
"We have had a lot of practice with wet balls this week and putting a lot of pressure on the catcher like hitting him with sticks and stuff to make sure we can handle the pressure," Saunders, 24, said.
Highlanders coach Greg Cooper ordered the rugby balls be dunked in water to accustom his players to a possible slippery surface against the Sharks.
"We studied the match between the Sharks and the Waratahs thoroughly and we noticed that both teams struggled with ball control.
"We're training with wet balls, because we expect the ball to be slippery because of the sweat on the players's hands as well as the humidity."
Although the backline is missing line breakers such as Nick Evans (injured) and Mapusua (playing overseas), Saunders felt the backs will bed in a couple of weeks.
"We are just taking a wee while to get things running -- we've made a few breaks but we are just not finishing off.
"I think we will be all right in a couple of weeks."
The Sharks who have two wins from two rounds and top the table with the Blues, will be confident going into this game, Saunders said.
"We've got our backs to the wall so it's going to be pretty interesting game. They have a got a good defence and it's going to be a bit of a battle.
"I've only read about Skinstad's comeback in the papers today -- he's on the bench but we haven't talked about it."
Skinstad missed the Super 14 matches against the Bulls and the Waratahs because Sharks coach Dick Muir was not satisfied with his conditioning.
He feels Skinstad is now ready to take his place on the bench.
"He'll probably start on the bench but we are looking at him as a blindside flanker or No 8."
It will be Skinstad's first Super 14 match since he played for the Cats in the 2003 season if he takes the field on Sunday.
- NZPA
