Making his first-class debut while still at school and in the Highlanders just after his 21st birthday, a long playing future at the top level looked assured.
After a few years in and out of the franchise's starting side, his career seemed to mirror the team's fortunes, as he switched positions but seemingly could never get a consistent run anywhere.
He was picked by Highlanders coach Glenn Moore in his first year in charge in 2008, but his career took a dive when he was not wanted by Otago and decided to head south.
Not selected by the Highlanders in 2009 and 2010, Saunders by then had firmly established himself in Southland.
He was enjoying playing in the maroon jersey and was still eying a place back in the Highlanders.
"I remember this time last year I was out in the chilly nights down in Southland giving it my all in training. I wanted to get back into this team and knew I would have to train hard to get there," he said.
"Being in the Southland team helped no end. There was nothing really special I did. I just did my job, just doing the hard stuff, making the tackles, carting the ball up, giving it to the faster backs.
"I'm getting older and slowing down a bit so I have to give the balls to the younger guys."
He was duly selected for the Highlanders by coach Jamie Joseph and Saunders (28), who now plays in the midfield after starting his career in the outside backs, has played 60 minutes in each of the past two games.
He joked that perhaps his impact has not been great as the side had lost both those games.
'The most disappointing thing I think is we have just had a drop in effort. We made a few handling errors and dropped the ball a few too many times.
"But we're the sort of team which has to give 110% effort in all our games. If all of us give 2% less effort then you add that all up then it makes the difference"
Although Saunders was unsure whether he would start this week, he said it was a case of last man standing in the backline.
The Highlanders have called in Ben Atiga to the squad but no-one else is being added at this stage.
This week's game against the Hurricanes in Invercargill was huge, giving the side a chance to get some momentum going and, more importantly, pick up some competition points.
"It's a real big game. It would be a big game, no matter where we played it."
It had been an emotional time for Saunders this season as he was in South Africa in early March when he was told his father, Mike, had died of a heart attack.
He said it was a very tough two days flying back from the republic.
"It was more about being there for Mum and to help as much as I can. He came to see me play every game. And it was tough for Mum to go to Carisbrook without him there.
"But he is the reason I'm here. In a way I'm playing for him."
