It is one of those terms that can be construed as suggesting the end is nearing, but Butler's form suggests the opposite.
''I'm not sure that is a word I like,'' he said.
''I feel like my body is as good as it has ever been and I'm trying to contribute as much as I can each game and help us win games.''
The 31-year-old has been part of a successful trio of Otago bowlers who have helped propel the team to nine consecutive wins and into tomorrow's final against Wellington at the University Oval.
Jacob Duffy and Nick Beard have taken 26 wickets between them and Butler's raw contribution has been 10 wickets at an average of 24.90 and 63 runs at 21.
Statistics can be a poor measure of a player's worth, though.
Perhaps his best performance came when his side was seemingly heading for defeat. Butler had helped restrict Central Districts to 163 for seven at Pukekura Park on Sunday. He took three for 28 but a batting slump threatened to undo his good work. The big-hitting all-rounder whacked an undefeated 32 off 17 deliveries and Otago kept its winning streak alive.
He also hit a six from the penultimate over to help Otago beat Canterbury by three wickets on Tuesday.
The odd six here and there does not bump the average up that much but the team knows the value of having a player like Butler in the action when the game is on the line.
''That's been the key this season,'' Butler said.
''We haven't relied on just one or two players. In every game, different guys have stepped up and helped get the job done. When you have a team with as many match-winners as we have, it is an exciting thing.''
Butler was part of the Otago team that won the twenty/20 title in 2008-09 and hopes to add another title tomorrow.
The final should be sold out, with just 800 tickets remaining by yesterday evening. Capacity is 3400.
