Joseph's future under a cloud

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has been unwilling to commit to the franchise beyond this year, opting instead to focus on what he regards as a 'Test-match' against the 'All Blacks' on Friday.

The Highlanders meet the Crusaders in Christchurch in a pivotal match for both sides' Super Rugby play-off hopes.

Joseph told NewstalkZB that it's exciting for his players to test themselves against the best in the country. He said the Crusaders were the benchmark and had been for the last 10 years.

Joseph, who will name his side on Thursday, will be able to recall pugilistic England loose forward James Haskell - who has served his four match ban for punching against the Cheetahs and then lying to the judicial officials about his past indiscretions.

Meanwhile the Highlanders coach, Joseph, said has yet to decide on his future with either the Highlanders or New Zealand Maori.

Joseph is coming to the end of his two-year deal to coach the Highlanders, having signed on for the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and he is unsure whether he wants to get involved again with the New Zealand Maori side.

The New Zealand Rugby Union announced last week the New Zealand Maori would be making an end-of-year tour to the northern hemisphere.

Joseph said he had not given much thought to coaching the Maori side or extending his Highlanders contract.

He was the coach of New Zealand Maori the last time it played, in 2010. If he does take on the Maori job he is unlikely to be around when the Highlanders start pre-season training for next season.

Joseph said he was really only looking at the current Highlanders season and had not given much thought past the game against the Crusaders this Friday.

"The season for us comes to a bit of conclusion after Friday and then we will have a month away," he told the Otago Daily Times. "So that may be a time to have a look at things."

He said it was not his intention to go anywhere but said it was pretty hard to make a comment on his future, as the focus of the whole team was centred on the game against the Crusaders.