The Highlanders are expected to make it to Christchurch in time for their quarterfinal despite suffering flight delays owing to the South Island storm.

The Highlanders have made it to Christchurch, arriving just seven hours before kickoff in their Super Rugby quarterfinal against the Crusaders.

The Highlanders had been scheduled to fly on Friday, but as the storm took hold across the South Island their flight was cancelled and the team was forced to delay their journey until Saturday.

The team's flight on Saturday morning suffered a brief delay and landed in Christchurch at 12.40pm, seven hours ahead of the 7.35pm kick-off.

ROB JEFFRIES/ GETTY IMAGES Highlanders boss Roger Clark made it out of Dunedin on the last flight before bad weather forced cancellations on Friday.

At about 11.30am the Highlanders announced via Twitter they had made it into the air, saying "Highlanders are on the bird - see you soon Christchurch."

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Highlanders are on the bird ✈️ see you soon Christchurch! #HighlandersANDyou #FinalsFooty — The Highlanders (@Highlanders) July 21, 2017

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark did manage to make it to Christchurch on the last flight out of Dunedin on Friday and on Saturday morning he told Stuff the team was ready to fly.

"The boys are on a plane at 11 o'clock. Air New Zealand are confident it will get out. Everything should be all good and we'll by some flippers, snorkels and wetsuits as we leave [Dunedin]," Clark said in jest.

HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES Lima Sopoaga and the Highlanders are set to arrive in Christchurch around lunchtime on Saturday.

"In Christchurch it is very wet but in Dunedin they are still waiting for it to lighten up so they can actually assess the water but at the moment Air New Zealand are confident they'll get flights out," Clark said.

See you tomorrow chch 😴😴😪😪 — Elliot Wikaira Dixon (@MaoriGC) July 21, 2017

After the Friday night flight cancellations, Highlanders first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga took the opportunity to pitch a change of ground for the match, noting Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium had a roof - among other things.

Chances on changing the game to Dunedin? 😂 we got plenty of Speights and it's warm under the roof. pic.twitter.com/e38v3q3WdX — Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) July 21, 2017

Clark confirmed the most likely tongue-in-cheek suggestions to move the game were never considered and said the team's preparation had not been overly affected.

"Once the flights were cancelled they just went home and went through their normal processes. We'll hook into our normal game schedule once they arrive this afternoon.

"The guys are confident it doesn't disrupt them. It is what it is and you've just got to deal with these things. It's something you can't control so you've just got to get on with it."

Heavy rain was forecast to return to Canterbury and parts of the areas were expected to receive up to 180mm before noon Saturday.

However, rain was expected to ease in the wider Otago region, where a state of emergency had been declared and around 100 homes had been evacuated in rural areas near Dunedin.

Clark confirmed there was a contingency plan if the Highlanders were unable to leave Dunedin but was confident it wouldn't be required.

"Sanzaar, the Crusaders and myself have obviously been talking about that but at this stage we don't have to worry about it."

The wet weather was also affecting road between the two cities, with State Highway 1 closed between Waikouaiti, north of Dunedin, and Timaru.