HAWTHORN veteran Brent Guerra will play game 250 on Saturday, but reaching the milestone isn’t what’s driving him this season.

Guerra’s football journey has taken him from Port Adelaide, where he played 65 games and St Kilda where he added another 31 to his tally.

On 96 games, however, he was cut by the Saints and on the football scrapheap, doubting whether he’d get another chance to play the game he loves at the elite level.

Hawthorn, and Coach Alastair Clarkson came knocking not long after the disappointment of being culled by the Saints and offered a lifeline Guerra thought might not have come.

He was drafted by the Hawks with pick 3 in the 2006 AFL Pre-Season Draft and before long was one of the side’s most important players, with his foot skills one of Hawthorn’s biggest assets.

Fast forward two years, to September 27 2008, where Guerra was an integral part of the Club’s Grand Final win.

He was a premiership player.

Now, as he prepares to play game 250 just five weeks after playing his 150^th match in the brown and gold, Guerra says he owes Hawthorn.

“It was great to play 150 for Hawthorn but to get to 250; it’s something I never thought I’d do,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I was at 96 games when I got delisted by St Kilda and to get another opportunity at Hawthorn, I owe the club a lot.

“To get here, there have been a lot of people who have helped me along the way and I thank those people - my family have been really important and supportive; Andrew Russell (the Club’s fitness coach) has also been a person who has definitely helped my career. ‘Clarko’ and our defensive coaches as well, they’ve taught me a lot over the years and I’m still learning now so I thank them for that.”

Having tasted premiership success once, the 31 year old says the desire to achieve the ultimate success again still drives him and the disappointment of missing last year’s finals series through injury fuels that fire.

“When I was growing up, all I wanted to do was play one game of AFL football,” he said.

“In my career, I’ve kind of just knocked off milestones and to get to 250 means a lot to me (but) all I can wish for is another premiership.

“You play all year to play finals and to miss out last year was very disappointing.

“250 is a great achievement, but if I end up a two-time premiership player, that’ll mean a lot more to me.”

Guerra is well placed to play a vital role in Hawthorn’s 2013 finals assault, having had his load managed through 13 of a possible 17 games.

He was one of the side’s best in the 56-point win over Essendon last Friday night, dispelling any queries over his value to the side.

He says he’s ready for what’s to come in season 2013.

“My body is feeling really good, I’ve missed a couple of games just through resting and giving the body a bit of a break this year,” he said.

“I think that’s going to go a long way in me playing out what is a long year and hit the finals at full pace.”