The Highlanders enter their final Super 12 warm-up against the Chiefs in Tauranga on Friday high on confidence and with few worries.

Coach Peter Sloane has named a near full-strength side for the match, with Brendan Laney remaining at fullback and Byron Kelleher, who has been under an injury cloud, named as halfback. The match will also mark the timely return of Josh Blackie to the openside flank.

Blackie, now fully recovered from a quadricep strain which has kept him out of the early warm-up games, returns in place of Finau Maka, who could be out of action until the third round of the Super 12 after damaging rib cartilage against the Hurricanes.

George Leaupepe, a two-try hero against the Hurricanes, is being rested this weekend as a precaution for a knee niggle, but should be fit for selection against the Blues in just over a week.

Sloane said the team were travelling well both on and off the field. "There was some concern initially with so many players from outside the area that the team might take some time to gel," he said. "But we're very pleased with the way the team's come together.

"It's no time to get too excited, though. It's a long season. But the backs are running good lines and I was much happier with some of the things we did last week. That was more important than the final result."

The Highlanders have been fortunate in having no serious injuries to date, but the same cannot be said of their first round Super 12 opponent the Auckland Blues.

The Blues could be without Robin Brooke for their early matches, while Troy Flavell is almost certain to miss the first part of the Super 12 after both players suffered injuries last weekend in the Blues pre-season match against New South Wales.