Centre Mitch Inman believes the Melbourne Rebels are playing their best-ever rugby – but they need to do so for longer to match Super Rugby front-runners the Hurricanes.

Inman rated the Rebels’ opening 30 minutes against the Lions last round as the best in their five-season history, but said mental lapses let them down as the Lions snatched a last-ditch win.

Preparing to match up against powerhouse All Blacks inside centre Ma’a Nonu in his 50th game for the Rebels, Inman said nothing less than an 80-minute performance would be good enough to match the unbeaten Hurricanes in their Friday night clash in Wellington.

“Our foundations are there, we’ve just got to stick the course,” Inman said.

“I think we’re competitive with most teams; we’ve shown that with the Waratahs and Brumbies, but we just need to stay switched on, especially in that 70-80 minute mark.”

Inman said the players were frustrated and disappointed to have let the Lions game slip away and see their clash with the competition pace-setters as the perfect way to put it behind them.

“We’re very hungry and determined to turn that around and there’s no better opportunity to do it than against a team that’s hitting their straps and that’s the Hurricanes,” he said.

While the Hurricanes are resting All Blacks trio in Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett and Ben Franks, the Rebels won’t take them any more lightly.

“They are well-stocked with All Blacks in that side and there’s plenty of x-factor and they’ve gone a bit better with their defence,” Inman said.

“They’re scrambling well and they’re playing more as a team and as a good unit and that’s shown with their five wins and no loss record.”

Inman said his team would need to watch out for former Rebel Jason Woodward who has been named as the Hurricanes fullback in place of the exciting Nehe Milner-Skudder.

“He’s obviously a good player and we’ve got to watch him because he’s quite dangerous with the ball in hand,” Inman said.

The 26-year-old Wallaby hopeful becomes only the fifth player to reach 50 caps with the Rebels and said the milestone was important.

He said he’d love to extend his time with Melbourne.

“I can see a lot of promise in this side. Hopefully there’s 50 more to come.”