The Canterbury Crusaders, meanwhile, will be chasing a bonus point win over the Queensland Reds, who have axed Japanese star fullback Ayumu Goromaru from their 23-man squad, as they continue to close in on the Chiefs.
In South Africa, the Sharks and Bulls are poised to pounce on their conference leaderships.
As the tournament goes into round 11 of the 17-round regular season, Naholo has been pencilled in by the Highlanders for his first run since he was injured in the opening game against the Auckland Blues at the end of February.
The All Blacks wing, Super Rugby's top try-scorer last year with 13, injured the same leg that saw him capture world headlines last year when he used a traditional herbal treatment to cure a fracture before the World Cup.
Without him this year the Highlanders have still fashioned an impressive six wins from nine matches to lie fourth in the tightly-packed New Zealand conference.
The Chiefs have won eight of nine but have been off the boil in recent weeks.
While they will not welcome facing a rampant Naholo on the wing, Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown is excited by the prospect.
"He seems to be in pretty good shape and is confident he can get out there," Brown said.
"It will be exciting for us to get him back."
Keeping Naholo fuelled with possession will be the task of scrum-half Aaron Smith who will himself be pressured by the Chiefs' Brad Weber who is rapidly forging a claim to be recognised as the All Blacks next No 9.
