Answering the big questions ahead of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season, the writers predict which player will end up as the best signing of the year.
The Highlanders had by far the most turbulent offseason out of the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific clubs, losing 16 players in 2023.
The diagnosis is a ruptured ACL, an unfortunately common injury in the sporting world and one that often takes around nine months to make a full recovery from.
The Highlanders have been considered and methodical with their future planning, prioritising key positions when assembling their squad of the future.
The Highlanders are gearing up for a tough match against the Western Force in Perth this weekend, following a bye week that gave several injured players crucial time to recover.
Ex-All Black great Sir John Kirwan has put the onus on the Highlanders' tight five in the wake of the 60-20 defeat at the hands of the Blues.
Super Rugby Pacififc's preseason schedule kicks off this week and while most of the All Blacks squad are required to rest, a number of players have made their way into the lineups.
Nikora Broughton is one of the rookies getting his first taste of life as a Super Rugby player. Earlier in the week, he and the team were in the pool for a stress and pressure training session with Dave Wood.
While Brodie Retallick won't feature for the All Blacks in Christchurch this weekend, the former World Rugby Player of the Year could be back on deck for the national side next weekend following a broken cheekbone suffered in July.
While the Crusaders won't have Argentinian international Pablo Matera on their books for next season, the Super Rugby Pacific champions have quickly swooped to replace the outgoing Puma by bringing in a loose forward from their closest rivals.