It's been a difficult pre-season for the Highlanders, with last year's winning team yet to record a victory.

The Super Rugby side is preparing to play the New South Wales Waratahs in Queenstown this Friday.

That'll be the Highlanders' third and final pre-season game and players are hoping to finish triumphant.

They lost to French team Racing 92 in Hong Kong, and drew against the Crusaders in Southland last week.

The reigning champions are set to formally start their Super Rugby campaign at the end of the month, when they'll face the Blues in Auckland.

They've got 14 matches to follow, ending in a home game against the Chiefs in mid-July.