Coach Jamie Joseph knows the Highlanders must lift their set-piece standards if they are to have a chance of upsetting the Sharks in their Super Rugby play-off match in Durban.

The Sharks are firm favourites for the game on Sunday morning based on topping the South African conference to earn home advantage against the sixth-ranked Highlanders.

Joseph says his team’s hopes will reduce further if they can’t hold their own in the possession battle against opponents, who he expects will kick a lot and attack through their powerful rolling mauls and scrum.

The Highlanders’ scrum and lineout struggled in heavy losses to the Waratahs and Crusaders this month, leading into their first play-off appearance for 12 years.

“You have to be at your absolute best when you play against the best teams in this competition and I’m not sure we’ve done that in the past two weeks,” he said.

“Any time we had a chance to build pressure we lost a lineout or had a bad scrum.”

The other obstacle to be overcome is any fatigue brought on by the 10,000km journey from Dunedin to Durban via Chistchurch, Sydney and Johannesburg.

Joseph is sure the Sharks will be much tougher opposition than when the Highlanders stunned them 34-18 in Durban in round eight.

“I think they took us a bit lightly and paid the price. I don’t think they will do that again.

“They looked almost unbeatable at the start of the season. They have had a couple of losses in recent times and, though they beat the Stormers well in Cape Town last week, every team in the competition is beatable if you can lift and play well on the day.”