The bearded lock will make his first test start in 27 months against Wales here tomorrow and after the two years he's endured, he doesn't want to tempt fate with the razor.
"I suppose there is a little bit of superstition but it's not like a Samson theory or anything that it's making me play well," he said.
"Just the last few games I had, I thought I played all right and I like to keep things the way they are."
He chuckles and admits the answer is the equivalent of an each-way bet, but recent history has taught him to be cautious.
Eaton, 27, revealed he was considering quitting New Zealand rugby after the Super 14 for the greener financial pastures of Europe.
An average season for the Hurricanes by his busy standards, confusing messages about whether lock or blindside flanker was his best position; it all left him a bit deflated as he missed the squad for the June tests.
"With any player that misses out on the All Blacks you're really gutted so you know what a special group it is and you always want to be there," he said.
"There are thoughts of giving it away or moving on overseas. I thought about it early on in the process of being left out.
"At the end of Super 14 I was told they wanted to play me at six and I was pretty confused at that stage.
"I went away with the Juniors and worked with Colin Cooper and he said just play six and enjoy it and don't worry about the lineouts, just do your job." Eaton played well, then was promptly picked for the Tri-Nations as a lock.
"It was pretty weird times", he deadpans with that Manawatu/Taranaki drawl.
His subsequent four tests, three of them against the Wallabies, were all off the bench including last Saturday's willing encounter in Tokyo which left him stitched above one eye.
Then this week he was elevated to the starting role alongside Brad Thorn, usurping Tom Donnelly and keeping Anthony Boric at bay for another week.
"It has been a long time. Last year I didn't feel I deserved to be here, I was battling to get back from injury and this year I've been toiling away," he said.
"It's pleasing that all the hard work's paid off and Graham and crew have seen that and given me an opportunity.
"It's pretty important for me to stake my claim especially with other locks (Ali Williams, Isaac Ross) coming back next year." Eaton only recently felt back to his best after a knee reconstruction ruined his 2008 season. That was satisfying, to overcome a major operation which can take up to two years for players to regain their best form, if at all.
Now he's in a three-way fight with Donnelly and Boric to be Thorn's locking partner for the big test of the tour against France in Marseille on November 28.
Eaton gets the next crack at Millennium Stadium for his 15th test, four years since his debut against Ireland on the 2005 grand slam tour.
Given the rollercoaster since his previous test start, in August 2007 against the Wallabies, Eaton will covet this latest No 5 jersey above all the others.
"My debut was out of nowhere and not much was expected. Now I've been left out for a couple of years and worked so hard to get back in, it's much more rewarding."
