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For Robbie Robinson, his Super 14 starting debut against the Sharks in Dunedin on Saturday will be like any other game - and the advice from his coach will be to stay calm.

The 20-year-old has been named at flyhalf for the struggling Highlanders as they try to get a first win at home this season.

Robinson has played off the bench, including 15 minutes against the Bulls in Pretoria last weekend, but he will be in the run-on team for the first time.

"I've been trying and trying and finally get a chance," he told The Southland Times.

Robinson said his short opportunity against the Bulls, including a try, was important in terms of his season.

He said he would have liked more game-time but was determined to make the most of every opportunity.

Coach Glenn Moore hopes Robinson will provide the Highlanders with an extra attacking edge. "His confidence has gone up. We thought last week he had a real impact when he came on.

"He does offer us a point of difference and the Sharks have had a pretty good defence. He provides us with something different to what we've shown."

The Southland Times reports that Moore will be advising his young charge to keep calm during his run-on debut.

"It's about playing with the same confidence he's shown coming off the bench and the same confidence he's shown through the Air New Zealand Cup in pressured situations. The good thing is he's got some experienced guys around him."

With the Highlanders arriving in Dunedin only on Tuesday there have been limited opportunities for Robinson to build a combination with scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan and inside centre Michael Hobbs.

Robinson told The Southland Times that he keen to also take on the goalkicking duties if first-choice kicker Israel Dagg, who is being troubled by a knee injury, can't do it.