Co-captain Nasi Manu believes the Highlanders have to be much more clinical if they are to have a chance of beating the unbeaten Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday night.
Manu, 26, who has played 52 games for the Highlanders since his debut in 2010, said the Highlanders had not quite clicked in their first two matches.
"We've had a good week of training and we're excited about the challenge ahead of us," he said.
"We're creating opportunities, which is good, but we are not quite capitalising on them and we need to be more clinical when we are in opposition territory.
The hard-working No.8 said the Highlanders would start as underdogs but that was not a concern.
"As Highlanders, we've usually been underdogs and no one's expecting too much from us."
Manu's effectiveness last week was reduced by a bout of food poisoning, but he is now fully fit.
"The energy levels were a bit low last week," he said.
"It was good to get a bit of momentum and the first win [20-13 over the Queensland Reds]. It was a bit ugly. We made a lot of mistakes and there is still a lot of work to do."
Manu will renew his rivalry with All Black Liam Messam if the latter is passed fit.
"He's just one of the star individual players they have across the park."
Manu said his aim this season was to perform consistently and to try and set a high standard as co-captain.
While he was disappointed at the Highlanders having a first round bye, he did not believe they could use that as an excuse for their comparatively quiet start to the campaign.
Manu is part of a much-altered pack to face the Chiefs, with coach Jamie Joseph making seven personnel changes to his starting XV.
The inclusion of Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman and Ma'afu Fia means a new front row, while lock Joe Wheeler and loose forward Gareth Evans also come in.
There are changes as well among the inside backs, with five-eighth Lima Sopoaga back after missing the Reds match for personal reasons and Shaun Treeby taking over the No.12 jersey.
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-capt), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-capt), Elliot Dixon, Gareth Evans, John Wheeler, Mark Reddish, Ma'afu Fia, Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery
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