Lade has 438 runs to his credit midway through round 5 and needs another 427 in the remaining eight rounds to break Wodonga batsman Des Healey’s record in 1957-58.

The left-hander has started the season with scores of 58, 63, 81, 117 and 119.

“I’m not big on stats,” Lade said yesterday.

“I have heard about it (Healey’s record) but it’s not a goal of mine.

“As long as we keep racking up a few runs as a team I will be happy.”

Lade, who has made about 25 first-grade centuries for SS & A, North Albury and Tallangatta, is unsure why he has started the home and away series spectacularly.

He started pre-season training in mid-September and said he had done little different to the past 25 seasons.

“I just think you get into situations where you are hitting the ball well and you try and make it last for as long as possible,” he said.

“It’s been going all right. I have had a bit of luck along the way but you try and ride it.”

Lade, 41, said he gained as much satisfaction from his 180-run partnership with good friend Steve Wood against North Albury on Saturday as he had from anything this season.

They took the score from 2-48 to 3-228 before Wood was dismissed for 96.

“It was the biggest partnership we have put on for a while, or maybe ever,” he said.

“I really enjoyed batting for that long with a mate.

“He’s been out at Tallangatta for 15 or 16 years and it’s great to see him still going and setting an example for the kids we are trying to bring along.”

Tallangatta will defend 5-323 at Bunton Park on Saturday, with the Hoppers to go into the run chase without opening batsman Ash Borella who has Riverina commitments.