Highlanders hooker Mahonri Schwalger says they are determined to right some wrongs when they play the Waratahs in their Super rugby match in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Highlanders have crashed to narrow home losses to the lowly Lions and Western Force in the past two weeks and have dropped from sixth to eighth in the Super 15 competition.
It is a crucial game for both teams - the Highlanders have 45 points and the Waratahs are seventh with 47 - if they are to keep alive their slim playoff chances.
"We've just got to go out and play our game," Schwalger said.
"We want to finish the season with a bang and play the rugby we were playing earlier in the season."
"We sat down this week and asked ourselves what had gone wrong in the past two games."
"I think it comes back to basics and not taking our chances."
"There was also a bit of fatigue and the Force scored two tries that they shouldn't have."
Schwalger said the Highlanders were 'gutted' to have lost two games they should have won and now had to concentrate on making amends.
"We played well in the first half against the Force but we didn't take our chances in the second spell while the Force made the most of their opportunities," he added.
"We were a bit guilty of trying to sit on our lead."
Schwalger and Jason Rutledge have vied for the No.2 jersey throughout the campaign and Rutledge will start on Saturday after Schwalger gained the nod in the past four weeks.
"It's a good competition between us," Schwalger said.
"It makes us both give our best."
"I'm pretty pleased with my season, especially after the shoulder injury I had earlier in the year."
Schwalger has come up against the Waratahs twice in Sydney with the Hurricanes and been on the winning side both times and he said a similar result this week would be a tonic for the Highlanders.
"We know it won't be easy," he said.
"They're tough, especially on their home ground but, if we get back to the way we were playing and attack more, there's no reason why we can't get a win."
Schwalger said he had enjoyed the campaign with the Highlanders despite the disappointments of the past two weeks.
"I've really enjoyed playing under Jamie [head coach Jamie Joseph]," he said.
"I know this team will get even better in the future."
"They've signed the core of this season's team for next year. It looks good."
There are five changes to the starting lineup from that which played in the 14-21 loss to the Force.
Tony Brown returns at first five-eighths in place of Lima Sopoaga (who is at the world Under-20 championships), Alando Soakai replaces John Hardie on the openside flank, Aaron Smith replaces Jimmy Cowan at halfback, Bronson Murray comes in for Chris King at tight-head prop and Rutledge replaces Schwalger.
There is no place in the 22 for All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly, Jarrad Hoeata and Josh Bekhuis again being preferred.