Hooker Jason Rutledge has warned the Highlanders they can't afford any slip-ups in their Super Rugby clash with the Cheetahs at Carisbrook on Friday night.

"They'll fight for 80 minutes and they're potentially a banana skin team," Rutledge said on Tuesday.

The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs have won just one of their opening seven games, but they have been extremely competitive.

They collected losing bonus points in three of their four matches in South Africa and have proved tough opposition on tour, upsetting the Waratahs 23-3 and losing 22-29 to the Blues last weekend.

"They're maybe a bit like we were last year when we were the underdogs, had nothing to lose and would throw everything at it," Rutledge said.

"We beat them last year in a close game over there so we hope that's a good omen.

"We want to speed the game up and play with width but we need to realise that there's a high chance it's not going to be a flash night on Friday.

"We don't want to be feeding rubbish ball across the backline. We want to get a decent platform and attack from there.

"The Cheetahs have got a good pack so we want to suck them in and then let the backs have a go."

Rutledge, 33, fresh from scoring two tries in the 26-20 win over the Brumbies in Invercargill last week, said the game was crucial in the context of the Highlanders' season.

"It's vital. We really need to bank four or five points and it could be the making or breaking of our season."

The Highlanders have had four wins and two losses and it will be one of the rare occasions in recent times that they have started favourites.

All Black lock Tom Donnelly has lost his place to Josh Bekhuis in the only change to the starting lineup from last week.

There are two changes in the reserves. Robbie Robinson replaces Tony Brown in the backs and prop David Te Moana comes in for Henry Aulika.

Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Shaun Treeby, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (capt). Res: Mo Schwalger, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Aaron Smith, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.

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