Warrnambool stalwart Tim O'Keeffe doesn't need any introduction to the Koroit football club.
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O'Keeffe, who will play his 200th game against the Saints on Saturday, first pulled on a Blues guernsey in 2007 under Dustin McCorkell.
The 29-year-old concreter played in seven consecutive Hampden league grand finals from 2008 to 2014, but a workplace injury in 2015 left him short of a finger and an eighth straight ticket to the big dance.
Warrnambool met Koroit four times during this period - in 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 - with the Saints earning bragging rights.
And O'Keeffe said this history would add an extra layer to the game at Victoria Park, which offers the winner a guaranteed top spot on the ladder.
"It feels pretty special hitting the milestone," he said.
"And we love playing Koroit. I think we match up well against them and usually play better football."
Blues coach Matt O'Brien said while O'Keeffe's 200-game achievement was a "remarkable effort", his charges wouldn't need any extra motivation to take it up to Koroit.
"I think the boys would give 110 per cent regardless," he said. "But the whole club is looking forward to celebrating with him."
O'Brien said the milestone man is a football coach's dream player, requiring very little direction and offering a lot in return.
"Tim sets himself high standards which permeate around the club," the mentor said. "He prepares, recovers and manages his body really well."
But O'Keeffe is pretty handy on the field too.
"As a player he's an extremely reliable defender who leads by example," O'Brien said.
"Tim is rock solid, very disciplined and a beautiful kick, which is really important coming out of the backline."
"He doesn't talk much but when he does, people listen."
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