“The result determines a lot,” Slater said.

“Whether it’s my last game, our last game for the year or we go onto play in a grand final.

“For me personally it’s pretty special, it’s my last game in Melbourne, this club and this city have given me an opportunity to do what I’ve done in the last 16 years and they were the first and only club who gave me that opportunity and believed that I could do what I’ve done and I’m very grateful for that.

“Hopefully I can say goodbye the right way on Friday night.”

But the Sharks have proven to be the Storm’s nemesis in recent years, beating them in the 2016 grand final and winning four of their last five games, including a 17-14 win at AAMI Park on August 12.

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The Sharks will have plenty of emotional drivers too as much-loved forward Luke Lewis will retire at the end of this campaign while they still have little love for the Storm, with the two clubs repeatedly butting heads in recent times.

Earlier this season centre Will Chambers was suspended for a dangerous tackle on Sharks captain Paul Gallen while this week Sharks coach Shane Flanagan drew a line in the sand and said his side would come after the Storm’s “leaders” – Cameron Smith and Slater.

Slater has been hunted since he first emerged on the NRL scene and he has withstood every heavy hit, so a few more blows this Friday night would be worth it for a chance at one more premiership.

“We are always prepared for anything in games,” Slater said.

“They are a physical side, we know that and know what we are up against and we won’t be giving out any of our game plans, that’s for sure.”

While Slater’s slow goodbye to the NRL has unfolded across the season as he bid farewell to State of Origin and then the Storm, his long-time teammate Ryan Hoffman is having a less storied exit, overcoming a hamstring injury to play in the final round but now battling for a place in the preliminary final side as second-rower Joe Stimson has been performing well in his place.

Slater wouldn’t rule Hoffman out after his fellow 300-gamer beat the odds to return for the finals.

“It’s an important time for myself and my family, Ryan Hoffman is in the same situation as me and so is Luke Lewis from the Sharks,” Slater said.

“One team is going to go onto a grand final and one will finish up for the year and that’s the reality of it.

“It’s a tough situation 'Hoffy' finds himself in but a month ago he probably felt his season was over, he did his hamstring and they gave him a timeline of 8-10 weeks to get back with only seven weeks left in the season.

“So for him to get back and play that last game for us was a fantastic effort from him, I’m not too sure what selections are happening but I’m sure he will be in the mix.

“He is a very experienced player and a great player for this club for a long time.”

For all the emotion and tributes, Slater won’t let himself get caught up in the moment either this week or on game night.

This is his Melbourne farewell but he doesn’t want it to be his goodbye – he has that reserved for a premiership celebration in Sydney the following Sunday.

The Storm play the Sharks in the preliminary final at AAMI Park on Friday at 7.40pm.