Coach Jamie Joseph wants the Highlanders to embrace their underdog status when they face Super Rugby leaders the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
Joseph says the game on Sunday represents a steep assignment for his players and he wants them to harness their excitement in a positive manner as they strive to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
"We're facing the form team of the competition. When you analyse the Waratahs, it's pretty hard to find weaknesses," he said.
"They're littered with X-factor, power and all the rest of it. We have to embrace these big games - our destiny is still in our own hands."
The Highlanders are fourth heading into the second last round of games but could easily drop from the playoff mix if they can't end the Waratahs' five-game winning streak.
Joseph says the chief focus this week has been the set-pieces, as the Waratahs boast one of the biggest and most effective forward packs in the competition.
He says the scrums and lineouts were inconsistent during the 29-25 home win over the Chiefs last week.
Joseph has named an unchanged team and hopes his players can reproduce the same incisive attacking work which stretched the Chiefs defensively.
"I thought we were very clinical at times and showed the courage and confidence to attack from inside our own 22."
The Highlanders have a poor record in Australia, having won nine of 33 games compared to 17 from 41 in South Africa.
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