Whatever bizarre hold the Force have over the Highlanders, there couldn't be a better time for the Highlanders to do something it.
In one of Super Rugby's stranger statistics - the Highlanders have to look back to 2007 for the last time they managed to beat the team from Perth.
That's six straight losses to a side which has developed since coming into the competition in 2006, but has never been considered a heavyweight.
In fact, the Force were only able to snap a 10-game losing streak with a win over the Waratahs.
"What changes for us is pretty much nothing," Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said.
"We've prepared the best we can given the challenges of travel from Bloemfontein. We've obviously got a really strong team going out on the weekend and we are well aware the Force have had a week off to freshen up. They've got nothing to lose, but everything to gain, so it's going to be a hell of a match."
The Highlanders could drop a game and still retain their wildcard position in the race to the Super Rugby playoffs, but with the games remaining against the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Blues, they could also make a positive step towards a second straight playoff appearance with victory in Perth.
It would also put a different complexion on player management towards the end of the regular season, with another game in the win column allowing the Highlanders coaches some more freedom around when they opt to give All Blacks Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith the second of their two-week mandatory rest.
It's a big game for Ben Smith, who will bring up his 100th game for the Highlanders, while Southland flanker John Hardie celebrates his 50th game in a career which has been affected by injury.
Smith is the player the Highlanders have literally been built around - a world class player who is equally hardworking and unassuming.
Joseph said he would not be putting any additional pressure on his team to get a win for the man they call 'Bender', there's already enough pressure on a team which continues to play an expansive style of game which has attracted fans throughout the season.
There's no better indication of that than the depth the Highlanders have started to create in their outside backs.
Not that long ago the Highlanders were struggling just to fill their wing spots, but this year the loss of Richard Buckman was offset by the arrival of Super Rugby's 2015 leading tryscorer Waisake Naholo, a Blues discard.
When Naholo sat out last week's game against the Cheetahs to rest a bruised foot, Ryan Tongia scored two tries on debut.
Naholo, whose bid to get out of a two-year deal with French club Clermont to chase an All Black jersey appears to be in the hands of the lawyers, makes a welcome return this week.
AT A GLANCE
Western Force vs Highlanders, 11.45pm Saturday, Perth.
Force: Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan, Marcel Brache, Kyle Godwin, Nick Cummins, Sias Ebersohn, Ryan Louwrens, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (captain), Angus Cottrell, Adam Coleman, Steve Mafi, Tetera Faulkner, Nathan Charles, Pek Cohen. Reserves: Heath Tessman, Chris Heiberg, Guy Millar, Sam Wykes, Kane Koteka, Alby Mathewson, Luke Burton, Brad Lacey.
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), John Hardie, Gareth Evans, Mark Reddish, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Reserves: Ash DIxon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Tom Franklin, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Richard Buckman, Marty Banks.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffman
TMO: Ian Smith
- The Southland Times
