KEY POINTS:
If there is ever any respite in the Super 14, the Blues and Highlanders were beneficiaries in the last round.
They out-hustled sides of restricted means - the Reds and the Stormers - and nailed down more chunks of confidence about their approach to tonight's showdown at Eden Park.
An extra advantage for the Blues is that they have tested their strategies against two other New Zealand sides already this season while the Highlanders have been out of that loop with a heavy travel schedule and a diet of South African rivals.
Whatever the background, this game should be up a notch in pressure and intensity from some of the rugby in the first month of the competition.
It is a quasi-national trial for the most recent All Black tourists who have been left out of the conditioning squad - James Ryan, Clarke Dermody, John Afoa, Luke McAlister, Nick Evans - and all the others involved in this match who are intent on reclaiming their national jersey.
The Blues have another 10 players who have played tests for the All Blacks, the Highlanders just two and on that tally the hosts should retain their competition lead. But this is the stage where other assets like teamwork and courage come into play.
A year ago, the unyielding attitude of the Highlanders and the clout of men like flanker Josh Blackie at the breakdowns, generated the difference. They made better decisions as they imposed their will on the match.
The Blues have achieved that in decent blocks this season, the Highlanders have been working towards that target and were helped last week by the ineffective Stormers. The Blues also got a great deal more freedom against a limited Reds opponent.
Serious combat is expected tonight from the opening skirmishes about which side can slip into a better rhythm from their setpiece and starter moves.
The Highlanders will look to build pressure gradually. Evans' tactical kicking can ask the Blues to win their lineouts or return the ball against a determined defence or the visitors can build sustained phases through the interaction of halfback Jimmy Cowan and his forwards.
The hosts will be more brisk with their attacking intent, looking to set up their short offloads as soon as they breach the advantage line. Defence will play a huge part in those plans while the battle for the breakdown ball and decisions made by referee Steve Walsh may be even more crucial.
There has been a growing strut about the Blues, a confidence their forwards can hold up consistently to allow their dangerous backline to flourish. Their intent has not wavered and their finishing, when given latitude like last week, can be lethal. Any razzle though needs a platform.
Will there be forward rumbles led by Saimone Taumoepeau or Greg Rawlinson, will Troy Flavell get the freedom to skirt wide away from his primary employment, can Ryan, Hoani MacDonald and Craig Newby counter with enough driving play to frustrate the Blues into mistakes?
A week ago, even with the erratic results thrown up in this series, logic pointed to wins for the Blues and Highlanders. Separating them tonight is not so clearcut.
