Conor Murray admits that Ireland players can't but think of the World Cup in Japan despite having three warm-up games to come.
A 40-man panel are at a warm-weather training camp in the south of Portugal ahead of Saturday week’s clash with England at Twickenham.
Murray didn’t feature in the match-day panel for last Saturday's 29-10 win over Italy, a game that came at the cost of a four-week minimum injury lay-off for back-up out-half Joey Carbery.
"We’ve got games coming up; I haven’t played yet so you’re just looking at that first game, hopefully getting that under the belt and start to build from there," the 30-year-old Munster scrum-half told Irish Rugby TV.
"I’d be lying if I didn’t say people are thinking of Japan and how exciting it could be but we’ve a lot of work to go before we go."
Joe Schmidt needs to cut nine more names for the final World Cup panel, which is expected to be announced ahead of the second game against Wales on 7 September in Dublin.
"I think I could name certainly 20, maybe a few more," said the head coach when asked about how many of his squad were certain of their places.
The Ireland rugby squad are enjoying a rest day today after a gruelling double session in Quinta do Lago yesterday, where the temperatures are in the high 20s.
Murray, who has 72 Ireland caps, said: "It’s great weather and hopefully the warm conditions will hold us in good stead with a few games to come. It’s nice to get going.
"Everyone is enjoying being here, it’s an incredible facility and everyone is trying to make the most of it.
"The base fitness is there, we’ve worked hard for nearly seven weeks and now it’s getting realistic so lads want to be involved; lads want to be on the pitch.
"We’re in the middle of games now and people are getting exited, this is where you want to be."
Ireland open their World Cup Pool A campaign against Scotland on 22 September and also face hosts Japan, Russia and Samoa.
Current Ireland squad
Forwards (22)
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 117 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 6 caps
Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 14 caps
Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 68 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 33 caps
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 89 caps
Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 45 caps
Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 8 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 29 caps
Jean Kleyn (Munster) 1 cap
Jack McGrath (St Marys College/Leinster) 55 caps
Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Ulster) 28 caps
Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 13 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 57 caps
Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 15 caps
Rhys Ruddock (Lansdowne/Leinster) 22 caps
James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 17 caps
John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19 caps
Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 15 caps
CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 31 caps
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 65 caps
Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 17 caps
Backs (18)
Will Addison (Enniskillen/Ulster) 3 caps
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 17 caps
Ross Byrne (UCD/Leinster) 2 caps
Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 19 caps
Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 4 caps
Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 13 caps
Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 77 caps
Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 6 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 37 caps
Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 90 caps
Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 14 caps
Kieran Marmion (Galwegians/Connacht) 26 caps
Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 11 caps
Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 72 caps
Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 21 caps
Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 83 caps
Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 19 caps
