The Brisbane Lion will run out for his 150th game on Saturday night against St Kilda at the Gabba after playing just seven games in a two-and-a-half-year stretch that was plagued by serious knee injuries.
Staker returned in round eight this year with a bang, kicking a memorable match-sealing goal against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
From there, the former Eagle has not looked back and said returning from injury had given him a new perspective.
"There's been some times when you question where your career is going. I've made a move here and suffered a few injuries, but it's satisfying to play 150 games," Staker said.
"If anything you tend to relax a bit more (after injury). I feel like you tend to not worry as much and have a bit of fun and not stress out.
"When you're injured you tend to think about how much fun you had playing footy and you want to be out there, so when you come back you don't let things worry you too much and just take every week and enjoy it.
"Everyone says 'You've got another two years in you because you missed those two years.' I take that as an optimistic look and hopefully it pans out that way for me."
Staker has played as both a third tall defender and third tall forward since returning and done so exceptionally.
He has kicked eight goals in the past month and formed a dangerous forward set-up alongside Jonathan Brown and Daniel Merrett.
It's a combination he can see working well into the future.
"It's been efficient," he said.
"It would have been good to have it last year and the year before but you'd think going forward it'd be something that'd be quite successful."
Michael Whiting is a reporter for AFL Media. You can follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
