Coach Vern Cotter said there was still disappointment at losing, but they had to deal with that while maintaining the construction of their game and building combinations.
There was no need to panic or make drastic personnel changes to the starting 23.
"We've been starting games well; we haven't been able to finish them.
"Maintaining the consistency and intensity for 80 minutes is key to us while also making sure we can go from one situation to the next while maintaing focus and being fully concentrated."
Restricting the Hurricanes' ability to achieve the field position they seek and their ability to get their forward rumble going before unleashing their backs will be necessary.
Once the Hurricanes started playing confidently, they were hard to stop and had the resources to continue at a high level for 80 minutes.
The Cameron Roigard factor at halfback for the Hurricanes is dangerous for any side, and the Blues know his threat.
"He waits for his opportunities and is especially dangerous inside the 22 because he only needs a couple of metres in the line break and then he can score, or get somebody else in that position."
Cotter said the Blues' inability to build on a good start against the Highlanders and then tail off was a concern.
"There were a couple of our kicks that didn't find grass and we got ourselves in an unaccustomed situation and didn't adapt to that quickly enough. And the bounce of the ball. Finn Hurley was chasing his kick ahead and if it bounces to your hand you defuse the try but if bounces back into his hand...we had a couple of those."
It was the same when the Highlanders were reduced to 13.
"We thought it if was 14 men and there was a front rower down we'd be able to scrummage but we weren't, so there were some choices around that."
He defended the decision to try for lineout drives because it had worked earlier, but they couldn't secure their lineout in those last minutes.
"We just have to stay calm and in control around those types of things."
Flanker Dalton Papali'i said the Blues and Hurricanes had playing styles that affect each other.
"It's a bit like fire vs fire. They're playing some good footy so we've got to go down there and do a job on them."
There was also a desire to recover from what their review revealed about the final stages of their loss to the Highlanders.
"We looked at ourselves and it showed the desperation. We wanted the win, but it was frantic out there and cost us.
"We need to have the right balance between the fire and ice mix. We probably had too much fire and not enough ice and it cost us."
While aware of the loose forward rivalry with Du'Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai, Papali'i said he left that consideration to the media and fans.
"It's just focusing on my game, the higher up you go and the more professional it gets, the more serious it gets. But I play my best footy when I'm enjoying and I enjoy being in the hurt locker with the boys next to me and seeing them sucking in the big ones because they're blowing with you. I enjoy the process and leave all the outside noise to the media."