Fullback Ben Smith pressed his claim for inclusion in New Zealand's Rugby World Cup squad, scoring the only try as the Highlanders beat the Hurricanes 13-6 in Super Rugby action on Friday night.

Smith was an All Black in 2009, playing two Tests, and a member of New Zealand's gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games sevens team but has seen his international career recently impeded by injuries.

His form this season, epitomised by his strong game in tricky conditions on Friday, has almost guaranteed his recall for this year's RWC.

Smith touched down in the 36th minute as the Highlanders scored 10 points in four minutes to take a 10-3 lead to halftime.

Young flyhalf Lima Sopoaga missed his first shot at goal then landed a conversion and two penalties from his next three attempts.

Hurricanes flyhalf Aaron Cruden kicked a second-minute penalty which gave the victors a lead that lasted for 34 minutes, until Smith's game-breaking try.

He added another in the ninth minute of the second half but the Hurricanes were unable to close on Otago in wet and slippery conditions.

The Highlanders' followed consecutive losses to the Blues and Chiefs and the result was the Hurricanes eighth defeat from 12 matches this season.

It's the Wellington side's worst-ever season, as they sit in 11th place at the beginning of the competition's 13th round.

"It wasn't pretty at times but the conditions were pretty tough out there and I think both teams wanted territory and wanted to use their forwards so it was quite a physical battle," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said.

"We were struggling to build pressure with our goalkicking but we were lucky to score a try and then Lima stepped up and banged one just before halftime which put us (seven) ahead which was quite a nice wee buffer.

"But a lot of mistakes when we got down their end in the second half, and if we'd got another three it would have saved us a bit of heartache in the end."

A bright note for the Hurricanes was the long awaited return of All Blacks Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu.

Out with a fractured eye socket since late April, Nonu started at inside centre and added real punch to the backline while halfback Weepu was solid after nearly six months off with a badly broken ankle.

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