It is just another game - but then again it is not. Trying to find the blend between the two is what the Highlanders need to do tonight in Dunedin.

In 2010, the Highlanders were effectively broke and a place in the playoffs appeared a million miles away. Now they are getting ready to host their first playoff game in 16 years.

Another year older and a lot wiser, the Highlanders plan to put the painful lessons learned in their qualifier defeat 12 months ago to good use against the Chiefs on Saturday.

The Blues just need to look at the Highlanders, writes Justin Marshall.

Flanker John Hardie looks to be the biggest injury concern for the Highlanders as they get into playoff mode. The team will start training today.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Highlanders from Eden Park.

The Highlanders are not getting ahead of themselves before playing the Blues in Auckland tomorrow night.

The Highlanders have scotched suggestions that Brad Thorn could make a return to their injury hit side for Friday night’s clash against the Blues.

Whichever way you look at it, the Blues are limping towards one of the worst seasons in their history.

The death of Jerry Collins was keenly felt in New Zealand last night - especially in Napier where his former Hurricanes had the difficult task of playing after the news broke.

A dark day for the franchise ended on a bright note when the Hurricanes clinched top spot for the first time in Super Rugby history.

Join us at 7.30pm for a live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.

Highlanders wings Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne showed their class as they scored tries during their team's 36-9 win over the Chiefs during the weekend, but where do they rank among the competition's best tackle-busters?

Into the spotlight for the Highlanders and exit stage left.

With three rounds to go in Super Rugby, the Herald checks out the remaining contenders and rates their title chances.

What about them Highlanders, eh? They danced out to a handy halftime lead and unlike the previous week did not surrender that advantage against the Cheetahs.

A win-win scenario is filling the Highlanders spreadsheet this week.

Have the Highlanders fallen off the radar? Are they that unfashionable? They started this round of Super Rugby by maintaining their push for the playoffs with a great effort, writes Wynne Gray.

There is a noticeable contrast in styles among the Kiwi teams and the two sides doing really well are the ones playing traditional New Zealand rugby.

According to those who spout the blue-and-gold mantra, the Highlanders should resume their winning methods after last week's stumble.