A system comprising: a slider block (204; 510) configured to slide along a slide track of a convergent nozzle of a gas turbine engine and defining a first slot (402; 500) and a second slot (403; 501); and a composite wear pad (300, 306) for being coupled to the slider block, comprising: a high heat capacity composite having a resin and a plurality of carbon fibers bonded together by the resin; a first rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a first axial end of the composite wear pad (300; 306); and a second rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) such that the first axial end and the second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) each have an end thickness that is greater than a middle thickness of the composite wear pad (300, 306), wherein the first rod and the second rod each have a cylindrical shape; characterised in that the high heat capacity composite circumferentially surrounds the first rod and the second rod such that the composite wear pad (300, 306) encloses the curved surface of the first and second rods (404, 405); and in that the portions of the composite wear pad (300, 306) containing the first rod and the second rod are inserted into the first slot and second slot, respectively. a slider block (204; 510) configured to slide along a slide track of a convergent nozzle of a gas turbine engine and defining a first slot (402; 500) and a second slot (403; 501); and a composite wear pad (300, 306) for being coupled to the slider block, comprising: a high heat capacity composite having a resin and a plurality of carbon fibers bonded together by the resin; a first rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a first axial end of the composite wear pad (300; 306); and a second rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) such that the first axial end and the second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) each have an end thickness that is greater than a middle thickness of the composite wear pad (300, 306), wherein the first rod and the second rod each have a cylindrical shape; characterised in that the high heat capacity composite circumferentially surrounds the first rod and the second rod such that the composite wear pad (300, 306) encloses the curved surface of the first and second rods (404, 405); and in that a high heat capacity composite having a resin and a plurality of carbon fibers bonded together by the resin; a first rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a first axial end of the composite wear pad (300; 306); and a second rod coupled to the high heat capacity composite at a second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) such that the first axial end and the second axial end of the composite wear pad (300, 306) each have an end thickness that is greater than a middle thickness of the composite wear pad (300, 306), wherein the first rod and the second rod each have a cylindrical shape; characterised in that the high heat capacity composite circumferentially surrounds the first rod and the second rod such that the composite wear pad (300, 306) encloses the curved surface of the first and second rods (404, 405); and in that the portions of the composite wear pad (300, 306) containing the first rod and the second rod are inserted into the first slot and second slot, respectively.