The All Blacks selectors want to see more of Damian McKenzie at No 10 for the Chiefs.

Aerosmith's song I Don't Want to Miss a Thing suitably sums up Chiefs star Damian McKenzie and his stunning streak of 80-minute efforts for his Super Rugby franchise.

The 22-year-old fullback is defying the modern age, where injuries are treated with caution, players' workloads are 'managed' and benches are regularly emptied.

McKenzie remarkably played every minute of his side's 17 games last year - a feat matched only by Cheetahs winger Raymond Rhule (who played two less matches) - and in the Chiefs' 12 fixtures this year, the little man with the dazzling feet has again not missed a moment. Only Waratahs fullback Israel Folau and Reds centre Samu Kerevi have done likewise in 2017.

Including the 2015 playoff match against the Highlanders, it's now 30 in a row where McKenzie has gone the full 80.

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Now into his third Super Rugby season, the man has become indispensable for coach Dave Rennie. Next year under new coach Colin Cooper he is set to become even more important, in a shift to first five-eighth.

Last weekend against the Blues, the Chiefs would have got nowhere near a draw without McKenzie's superb evasiveness, bravery, vision and game-smarts, and likewise against the Sunwolves they would have been embarrassingly stuffed without him.

But how does, for one, this guy listed at 81kg, not at the very least pick up an injury of some sort running into big boppers, and secondly, not get rested from duty now and then like many other top-line players?

McKenzie credits the first one to the work of the team's trainers and medical staff, and the efforts they go to during the week.

"They look after us really well," he said, adding there wasn't anything too specific they needed to do for him.

"It's more just around stretching and maintaining, getting all that stuff right, and they put steps in place on what to do there. So I guess it's just about doing those little things which help you feel a bit better for Friday or Saturday.

"[Then] I guess you've just got to go out there and give it your best and try and not half do it because I guess that's when something may happen, so it's just about being confident in yourself and just going out there and playing."

And in McKenzie's case, playing and playing and playing. In terms of the no-rest, that's just how he likes it. Anyone know someone who loves their job that much? It's as if his contract has him paid double-time every Friday or Saturday night.

It reminds me of a future Black Caps captain Kane Williamson when I asked him of his record-breaking knock for Northern Districts in 2011, having finished a day 252 not out.

"I just like batting," was the quotes that sticks in the memory.

For McKenzie, such a similarly brilliant talent from a young age, it's likewise - his pure passion for his own craft.

"I just love being out there, you know, I love playing," he said.

"I'm happy to do what's best for the team. If they want to rest me one week because it's for the betterment of the team I'm happy to do that. But hopefully they keep picking me, it'd be nice."

And talking of being picked, McKenzie's form must have him well in contention to add to his two All Blacks caps and secure a spot in the 33-man squad for the British and Irish Lions series.

"I guess that's just round the corner," he said. "I've said from the start my main focus at the moment's playing for the Chiefs and trying to consistently perform week in week out, so if anything's to come after that it's a massive bonus."