"Making the Hawke's Bay Magpies team is still a goal of mine. A broken arm last year ruined my hopes of making the Hawke's Bay Samoans team but I'm hoping to make the Samoans or the Hawke's Bay Development team this year as a stepping stone towards a Magpies berth."
Should Sione and his Clive team compete well against unbeaten defending champions Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist at Farndon Park on Saturday it will give rep team selectors a reminder of what he is capable of. Having represented Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools, Under-20s and B teams in the past before heading to Wellington for a three-year stint with Petone, Sione knows what's required at the next level.
However, he isn't looking any further ahead than Saturday's assignment .
"It will give us a good gauge as to where we are at. We definitely want to finish second or third after the round which means we will have a good chance of meeting them again in the final."
A father of three boys who all play for MAC, Sione missed Clive's Nash Cup round clash against NOBM at Park Island which the hosts won. With the opportunity to mark in-form loosies and Magpies hopefuls Matt Gardner and Jospeh Penitito, Sione is counting the sleeps like a youngster waiting for Christmas.
He believed he had another three seasons of premier play at least in him.
"We've got a fourth child on the way and hopefully it's a girl. I will just keep playing until my wife tells me to stop."
A Flaxmere College product, Sione works as a labourer on apple orchards run by Bayley Produce.
"I do spraying, drive tractors and other physical stuff which helps my rugby. We're a recognised seasonal employer so we work with some awesome people."
His job reminds him of when he was 17 and he arrived in Hawke's Bay with his parents, five brothers and two sisters from Samoa in search of better opportunities. He has found those on and off the rugby field.
Best & fairest
Clive v Havelock North: 3, Api Sione (Clive); 2, Kalin Paewai (Havelock); 1, Duff Penitito (Clive).
NOBM v Hastings: 3, Chris Johnston (NOBM); 2, Mike King (NOBM); 1, Jayden Rihia (Hastings).
Pirate v Tamatea: 3, Sean Morrison (Pirate); 2, Colin Hokianga (Tamatea); 1, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).
Taradale v Central: 3, Chris Eaton (Taradale); 2, Tomo Fogarty (Central); 1, Karl Lepelaars (Central).
Tech v MAC: 3, Tere Joel (Tech); 2, Tom Iosefo (MAC); 1, Samu Iosua (MAC).
Leaderboard: 13 points: Chris Johnston (NOBM); 12: Matt Gardner (NOBM), Fale Matamata (Hastings); 10: Ricky Hayes (NOBM). 9: Tama Cahill (Pirate), Tere Joel, Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet (all Tech), Jonty Strong (Havelock); 8: Aaron McPhee (Pirate), Tomo Fogarty (Central), Ted Walters (Tech), Jesse Paewai (Havelock), Andrew Gardner (Taradale); 7: Cole Eru (Central).