Even if Cian Healy's Test career ends at next year's World Cup, there's a real possibility that he could draw level, or even break Brian O'Driscoll's Irish record in the next 12 months.
On 119 caps, he's fourth in the all-time list, with only Rory Best and Ronan O'Gara separating him from O'Driscoll's record of 133.
But as he rounds towards what he hopes will be his fourth World Cup campaign with Ireland, he says he'd happily fall short of the appearances record if it means the team breaks new ground in France next year.
"I could have 200 caps and no medals and I know where I'd be happier," he said.
"I'd take another five if I got some more silverware for it, instead of another 20. I think a cap number without reward is not so important."
Likewise, he isn't too concerned about Ireland's position on top of rugby's world rankings.
"Personally, I would tend not to look at that sort of stuff. I wouldn't take a ranking into account because I don't have a medal for a ranking. That's how I look at things.
"With your preparation though, you're preparing to be the best version of yourself and if everyone prepares to be the version of themselves we should continue to grow."
Whether or not he remains an Irish international after next year's World Cup, the 35-year-old is still expected to continue on with Leinster at least until the summer of 2024.
The last 18 months have seen the veteran loosehead move into a sort of big brother role in the Irish pack, having handed the number one jersey to Andrew Porter following his move across the scrum in 2021.
Even if his minutes aren't what they used to be, his experience means he's still a big part of Andy Farrell's plans, the steady hand on the tiller if Porter was to be unavailable, featuring in 10 of the last 12 games for Ireland.
And Healy (below) admits it's taken him a bit of time to adjust to his new role as a replacement.
"You have to prepare differently, you have to think about how you're going to stay in the game.
"When you're on the bench, it's something I've been working really hard on, because I spent the majority of my career not being in that position. Now that I'm in that position I want to be able to be as impactful as possible in all the right ways, and add positively to the team.
"You have to pick up extra fitness sessions here and there and you have to be on the ball with that.
"Around the mentality of the game, nothing really has changed because you are thinking about your impact on the game.
"Around the nutrition side of the game, I have learned a lot, there was one game where I was on the bench and I didn't have the same load of food [that I’d ordinarily have if I had have been starting].
"I got caught off guard once or twice by not having enough fuel in me to finish it [the game] out. From a nutrition side of it, I make sure I have enough fuel in me as if I was starting a game and then that is where I have to do extra in the gym on a Monday, or else cycle it out or do a bit of fitness to run off what you didn’t get done [on match day]," he adds.
Saturday's game against Fiji looks like being an ideal opportunity for Farrell to Test out his back-up combinations, with Healy potentially in line to start along with Finlay Bealham in the front row.
The Connacht tighthead produced one of his best Irish displays in last week's win against South Africa, replacing the injured Tadhg Furlong after just 40 minutes, and playing a major role in a dominant Irish scrum in the second half.
"Saturday was brilliant," Bealham says.
"Obviously a very physical, tough game and to come out with the win, things didn't go to plan at times, but the resilience we showed across the board was unreal. It's up there, a brilliant night, one we won't forget, for sure."
His performance allayed some concerns over Ireland's vulnerability without Furlong, but says he didn't feel any extra pressure on himself to perform.
"I don't know, I just focus on what I can do, and work really hard at that and try and improve myself and improve my game as much as I can.
"I wouldn't heed too much attention about the outside stuff, I just keep my focus pretty narrow and in the moment."
Just as Porter's move across the scrum has impacted Healy's playing time, it's had the opposite on Bealham's career.
Tadhg's obviously a world-class player and he's a British Lion and everything like that but I need to be pushing him and making him better and making myself better.
The 31-year-old has won 26 caps since making his debut in March 2016, but 12 of those have come since the summer of 2021.
His consistency in the last 18 months was highlighted on Saturday by Farrell, but Healy says it's not just since last year.
"I think it's longer than that. He's had his targets and things he's been working on for a good bit longer, and you've seen the progression.
"I've felt it having to go against him in scrums, and then his play around the park, he's become one of the cogs that makes it all work pretty well. He's been a natural fit, it doesn't look like he's trying to do something that isn't his style, he's just a natural and it's really good to see," Healy said.
Bealham credits his form in the last two seasons to the time he's been able to work alongside Furlong.
"Like Church [Healy] said, you want to be the best version of yourself. Tadhg's obviously a world-class player and he's a British [and Irish] Lion and everything like that but I need to be pushing him and making him better and making myself better.
"I wouldn't see myself as a back-up player. I can fill that role and I keep pushing myself and finding new limits to where I can go and see what happens.
"Tadhg's been very good to me. We started working together, obviously we've been playing together but when I've been up here in camp I work a lot with him in terms of reviewing training and preparation and everything like that, just kind of bouncing ideas off him, learning from him as best as I can and asking him questions about what he could do better if he was me. Little things like that.
"We catch up most nights and sit down for an hour and go through training, go through scrums, all that fun stuff and just bounce ideas off each other and have a really good conversation about things. For me that's been an area where I've got a lot of growth from so I'm very thankful to him for letting me."
Follow a live blog on Ireland v Fiji on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app this Saturday from 1pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch highlights of the Women's Rugby World Cup final on Saturday from 6pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
