Waisake Naholo has been a revelation on the wing for the Highlanders this season © Getty Images

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The Highlanders are offering full support to prolific winger Waisake Naholo as he tries to back out of his French club contract.

Naholo announced he had signed a two-year deal with Clermont Auvergne in February, just before a Super Rugby season in which he has shone, scoring a competition-leading eight tries. Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph confirmed the veracity of French media reports that the 24-year-old is negotiating a release.

"It's clear that we really want to keep him. His decision was made prematurely, before the start of the year," Joseph said. "Waisake's really keen to stay now so I'm hoping we're going to be successful over the next few weeks."

Joseph wouldn't confirm reports that New Zealand Rugby is driving the negotiations. Clermont bosses have said that is the case, suggesting the uncapped former national sevens and age-group winger has burst into the Test selection picture. Naholo's decision to sign offshore wasn't surprising, Joseph said, pointing out that he had played just two games in two seasons with the Blues before shifting south.

"He's only a young guy and he hadn't played much. I don't think he thought he'd be as successful as he has been this season, but things have gone from strength to strength."

Naholo suffered a heel injury during last week's 28-23 loss to the Lions, forcing him out of the fifth-placed Highlanders' match against the 12th-placed Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday morning (NZT). He is replaced by debutant Hawke's Bay winger Ryan Tongia. That is one of three changes to a team described by Joseph as frustrated after blowing a 17-point halftime lead in Johannesburg.

"There's been a lot of resolve and a lot of honesty about that performance," he said. "We trained a lot better this week. We've got used to the travel and the altitude."

The Highlanders have won all four previous games in Bloemfontein and were seven-from-seven against the Cheetahs before last year's loss in Invercargill.