Gordon Slater hopes to celebrate his 50th match for the Hurricanes on Saturda in similar fashion to his debut in the Super 12 five years ago.

The 30-year-old came on as a replacement against Northern Transvaal in the third match of the 1997 season. It was his only appearance that year but it was marked by a 64-32 victory.

Fast forward to Saturday's match against the Reds in Palmerston North and Slater (pictured) would like a similar result when he joins teammates Tana Umaga, Christian Cullen and Dion Waller as those to have played 50 games for the Hurricanes.

It is a great achievement for the Taranaki farmer whose career was nearly over when he broke his leg playing against Bay of Plenty in the NPC second division final in 1995.

He missed the 1996 season and was given that one shot in 1997 against Northern Transvaal. A year later he was in the squad and he has not looked back since.

Slater's time with the Hurricanes has been remarkable. He missed the match against the Stormers in Cape Town in 2000 when he stayed in New Zealand for the birth of his second daughter, but that is the only game he has missed.

Injury has never forced him from the field, nor kept him from starting, an incredible feat for a tighthead prop in such a tough competition.

Slater said he had enjoyed his time with the Hurricanes, but admitted he did not enjoy living in Wellington during the Super 12. "You have to do it because it's what you have to do to play in the Super 12, but if there was another choice I'd probably take it."

He said the Super 12 had changed during his five years. The competition had become more even, with no team likely to go through unbeaten as the Blues had done in 1997.

"Going to South Africa has also lost its stigma. That used to be the trip from hell but most of the teams have got over that now."

Slater said he was privileged to have played alongside some of the best players in the world and been part of some fantastic games, but he regretted the Hurricanes had not always played to their potential.

"We have not played our best rugby yet and, hopefully, we can do that soon because, if we do, we could finish near the top," he said. "We just have to find that 80-minute performance and when we do all hell will break loose." - Sapa