'The old bloke' in the Wallabies pack James Slipper poised to bring up a century of Tests

Yet the 31-year-old's rugby career feels as if it has been reborn as he prepares to play his 100^th Test having again arguably established himself as Australia's premier loosehead prop.

Slipper will become the Wallabies 13^th centurion when he packs down against the All Blacks in the final Bledisloe Cup clash at Brisbane's Lang Park on Saturday night.

The ACT Brumbies star has started every Test throughout Dave Rennie's short tenure in charge of the national team and is poised to reach a mark which once seemed little more than a pipe dream.

Two years ago he was hunting for a lifeline after being discarded by the Queensland Reds following a ban for cocaine use. Slipper's second chance came in Canberra, and it proved a masterful move.

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Slipper has seen a handful of teammates reach 100 Tests since he debuted against England a decade ago, the most recent being captain Michael Hooper just weeks ago.

"Every player that hits it will say it's not really about 100 games, it's more about winning a game of footy that week. I'm probably no different," Slipper said.

"I don't really have a good answer for you, it's special, it's probably something you look back on when you finish up."

Slipper's determination to win the game at hand could make the milestone a tad bittersweet after the Wallabies crashed out of Bledisloe Cup contention in Sydney last week.

The All Blacks have held the silverware since 2003. Not since 2002 has it been held aloft by a man in gold.

"I remember it. It's obviously a part of the time when Australian rugby was very strong, I was growing up in that period in the early 2000s. It was a really good time to be watching rugby," Slipper said.

"I would have been 13. Some of the boys wouldn't have even been born, that's the worry. I would have been with the family, my brothers and the old man.

"We watched all sports, anything with an Australian game on, we'd be watching. I remember watching the Wallabies back then, they were impressive.

"You've obviously got your Matt Giteaus, those sort of players were big for me. Toutai Kefu and Tim Horan were the big ones for me, being a Queenslander.

"I just remember a team that went out there and played really exciting rugby and they really stuck it to the All Blacks. Hopefully we can do the same."

He will pack down alongside Brumbies teammate Allan Alaalatoa and hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa against a rampaging New Zealand forward pack which left the Australians well beaten a week ago.

Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a will come off the bench alongside Taniela Tupou and potential debutant Angus Bell, who has forced Scott Sio out of the 23-man squad.

"In any team, competition for spots drives performance. I feel like that happens down there [at the Brumbies] and it has come into the Wallabies as well," Slipper said.

"At no stage do we think we're safe in the spot, we just want to do our best each week. It's quite good, because a lot of players who aren't in the team work just as hard to make sure you're good to go."

Rennie knows Slipper will leave no stone unturned in a bid to set the tone.

"What I expect from James is what he delivers all the time," Rennie said.

"He is an impressive character, I've loved spending time with him over the past few weeks. A good man who is passionate about the jersey.

"A hell of an achievement, and to do it at [Brisbane] is pretty special for him, being a Queensland boy. We're really excited for him. He's very popular within the group.

"The only way we can honour that is by a quality performance, that's the expectation. What we know is he will front, because he fronts every time."

BLEDISLOE CUP IV

Tri-Nations match two: Saturday - Australia v New Zealand at Lang Park, 7.45pm.

Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. Matt Philip, 6. Lachlan Swinton, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Nic White, 10. Reece Hodge, 11. Marika Koroibete, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Jordan Petaia, 14. Tom Wright, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Folau Fainga'a, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Ned Hanigan, 20. Liam Wright, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Noah Lolesio, 23. Filipo Daugunu.

All Blacks squad: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Sam Whitelock, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Jordie Barrett. Replacements: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Cullen Grace, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Damian McKenzie, 23. Will Jordan.