Facing three games in a week will be a challenge for the Hurricanes this week, and it doesn't come much harder than starting against the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday in Wellington.

Flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi said they wanted to face the programme on a game by game basis, and while there could be some rotation in the squad, he was keen to be picked for each game.

"I'm always putting my hand up to play. I love playing and I love representing this city. It's exciting times, it's never happened before, it's a good challenge," he said.

They will play their return game against Moana Pasifika on Tuesday and then head to Dunedin to play the Highlanders on Saturday.

After their golden point loss to Moana two weeks ago, and their one-point loss to the Chiefs, the Hurricanes knew they were not far from getting wins.

Kirifi said it had been a case of fixing one part of their game and then getting another thing wrong. But he hoped they could have everything right soon.

There were times when it was frustrating, such as when they discussed at halftime what they wanted to do, agreed on it, and then, for whatever reason, something didn't click.

"It's like you are waiting to get punched in the face before you throw one back so, hopefully, this week we don't do that," he said.

There was no lack of talent in the side, as they had shown when mounting late-game fightbacks, but it was about switching off at crucial stages.

"We're still not hitting our straps, we're still filling our potential as a team. You look at the Chiefs, they are one of the best sides in New Zealand, and we are disappointed we're not winning those games," he said.

Assistant coach Chris Gibbes said the Hurricanes were again unable to build on opportunities created. There was a 20-minute period in the second half, against the Chiefs, when they hadn't pushed themselves to be at their 100 per cent best, he said.

"In the end that's what cost us. We've had tons of effort, tons of courage, but we need to make sure we're playing for the 80 minutes," he said.

There were passages of the game where they had been good, playing as they wanted to, and, for 65 minutes, that contributed to an arm wrestle. But they had buttoned off, and that was crucial.

"Fair play to the boys, they came back, they showed a massive amount of fight and we nearly got there, but it's a bit of learning for this group," he said.

The Hurricanes felt they could beat any team on their day, but they needed to have their performance right.

Gibbes felt moving Jordie Barrett to first five-eighths with Ruben Love had worked well. Barrett gave a high amount of energy to the effort and was very physical, while Love had run hard to the line.