Ian Madigan hopes that reiterating his ability to boss a test match backline in Saturday's 28-22 victory over Scotland can boost his World Cup selection claims.
The playmaker's ability to feature at 10, 12 and even 15 could prove the key to his World Cup selection chances - at the expense potentially of a midfield stalwart such as Gordon D'Arcy.
D'Arcy's chances of reaching a fifth career World Cup seem under threat after a mixed showing on his 82nd cap against Scotland on Saturday.
Madigan's versatility could even hand head coach Joe Schmidt the option to retain Paddy Jackson and squeeze three fly-halves into his final 31-man squad, which has to be submitted on 31 August.
"It was a very important part against Scotland, showing that I could run the game," said Madigan.
"People love using the phrase 'game management', and I've been working really hard on that with Joe (Schmidt).
"One of my main roles as an out-half is to bring other players into the game, and I did my best to do that, and in fairness to the guys around me they made it very easy for me."
Johnny Sexton naturally enters the World Cup as Ireland's playmaker-in-chief, but Madigan's flexibility renders him central to Schmidt's overall plans.
Schmidt will thrash out the bulk of any remaining selection dilemmas this week, before Ireland host Wales for their third of four World Cup warm-up clashes on 29 August.
Ireland will complete their warm-up schedule against England at Twickenham on 5 September, but by then their final World Cup squad will be set in stone.
Schmidt's men open their Pool D campaign by taking on Canada at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 19 September.
The Wales test will be the last chance for any fringe stars to win World Cup selection. Madigan has admitted training has become increasingly frenetic across the summer.
"It's really competitive. I think across the board you've got minimum two players, and three in some cases, competing for each position," he said.
"That's great: it means there's a great edge in training, every single run you get in training counts.
"There are a lot of guys who have put their hands up over the last two weeks, there's been massive preparation and then another game coming up at the end of the month.
"Guys are going to have other chances again, and everyone knows just how important those opportunities are."
