"Who said I can't drill one of them?" Sean O'Brien replies with a smile when asked if he will set aside his famed abrasive nature when he lines out for the Ireland Legends against England this evening.
The 36-year-old finished his professional career with London Irish in 2022 and made a short-lived comeback for Naas in the AIL last year before suffering a hamstring injury.
That's sidelined him for a while but, now serving as the contact coach for Leinster, the juices are flowing for a return to action.
It's not in the former Ireland, Lions and Leinster flanker's make-up to hold back but discretion may trump valour at Energia Park for the annual clash of the old boys, which raises money for injured player funds in Ireland and the UK.
As for holding back, O'Brien, inspired by what he sees close up at his home province and with the Ireland team, might just change up for the evening, where the Legends will come up against a star-studded English line-up including Matt Banahan, David Strettle and Delon Armitage.
"I'd love to be playing the game that Ireland are playing now, rather than being abrasive," O'Brien tells RTÉ Sport.
"It's so exciting using your hands, the little out balls and tip-ons and stuff like that.
"You won't see me running over anyone in the Legends game, I'll be using my hands more. I could be playing at 12 yet, so we'll see."
On St Patrick's Day we’ll be Dancing with the Stars of the #rugby field once again.
— Irish Rugby Legends (@RugbyLegendsIRE) February 7, 2023
Come join us & help raise funds for rugby related charities!
Tkts: https://t.co/bcJc53NJQu#IREvENG #LegendsRugby pic.twitter.com/PrXRi7gbWF
Joining O'Brien as for his Legends debut is recently retired Leinster lock Devin Toner, who won three Six Nations titles and four Champions Cups in a trophy-ladden career.
The 36-year-old called it a day at the end of last season and reflected on life after rugby.
"[The body is] good, I've done nothing since [I retired].
"I’m not really looking forward to the day after because we have a box in the Aviva, in the new job, so I’ll be hoping that I’m fine the day after.
"I’ll be hosting some clients so I can see myself walking around crippled in the box so I’m going to have to get out...to do a jog or something.
"I’ll back myself. Len Dineen [Legends manager] was saying that I’m kind of like in the academy of the Legends now, I’m one of the youngest there which will be great.
"There are bits [of playing I miss].
"You don’t miss the training, the nerves building up to a game, you don’t miss things like that.
"The big games, you do, the atmosphere, the home France game in the Six Nations.
"You do kind of miss when the anthems start playing, a big win and the nights out after, back in the Shelbourne, you do kind of miss but overall I don’t miss the play and the preparation and being on all the time.
"Little bits but in general, no, I feel very good about it. I love going and supporting at the games now as well. It’s good still being involved but having a box there and chatting to some of the lads."
The Ireland Legends will be captained by Shane Byrne, the former Ireland international hooker who has recently been tearing up the dance floor on RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars. Byrne followed in the footsteps of former Irish players Tomás O'Leary, Peter Stringer and Jordan Conroy on the programme
However, 6'10" Toner was quick to dismiss any suggestion that he might break out his ballroom shoes.
"No, I will not be doing that, that’s beyond my skillset. Not for me, I don’t think I’ll be ever in their plans," he laughs.
The match kicks off at 5.30pm.
