Johnny Sexton will just about concede he's no spring chicken but says the thoughts of finishing up his career are spurring him on.
The Ireland skipper will start his 12th Six Nations campaign when Ireland take on Wales in Cardiff on Sunday.
The questions about longevity keep coming his way, not a surprise given he’ll turn 36 in July and is often sidelined by various niggles.
He’s eager to point out that these little knocks are just that but, they are adding up, each taking a toll on a body he refuses to remove from the front line.
Sexton’s desire to pull on the green jersey should never be underestimated. He can reach 100 Ireland caps if he gets a run of fitness over the next seven weeks.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
He's been through the battles but never comes across battle-weary.
In fact, speaking to reporters yesterday, he gave the distinct impression that he’s just as excited about a potential 96th cap on Sunday as he was when he ran out against Fiji at the RDS in 2009 for his first.
Asked whether he still relished the challenge after all these years, Sexton said: "It definitely hasn't changed. I was only thinking it myself today when I was practising my kicking, thinking, 'How has this not gotten easier?' In many ways it's gotten worse.
"But it's what's great about the Six Nations, isn't it? It's great.
"The hype, the interest, the pressure that you put on yourselves to try achieve for your country, it's what we'll miss when we finish, I think.
"So it's trying to, in a weird way, enjoy it. It is tough going at times, but it's definitely not getting easier."
We need your consent to load this Facebook contentWe use Facebook to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
And how has his personality changed through the years and is he now better equipped to deal with the pressures that captaincy brings?
"It depends what day you ask me, what side of the bed I get out of it," he laughs.
"You'd have to ask someone else to be honest. I'd like to think I've changed for the better, but sometimes you slip into old habits. But look, ask one of my team-mates, they'd be a better barometer.
"I think the responsibility and the pressure, yeah, it probably does go up a gear with the [captain's] responsibilities that you have.
"The extra things that you need to cope with during the week in terms of the extra media commitments, dealing with other squad (members), guys that are selected, guys who aren't selected and making sure the team is prepared well.
Fit-again Sexton wants Ireland to move up a level
"When you're not a captain you don't have to worry about a lot of those things.
"You can just concentrate on yourself but I enjoy that extra responsibility. It does bring a little bit more pressure but I do enjoy it and I'd hate not to be doing it is probably the right way to be putting it.
"So it's just about trying to enjoy it. It's easier said than done.
"At the end of the day, when we all finish up at some stage, these are the days we're going to miss and we'll miss the pressure, we'll miss the nerves and we'll miss that level of adrenaline it gives you in your preparation, I suppose, is the best way to put it from me.
"I think the nerves drive you to do that little bit more in practice or to do that little bit extra that makes a different. Try and harness it in the right way."
The taking it 'game by game' cliche gets an airing but the Leinster player admits Andy Farrell's side have set a goal for what constitutes a successful campaign, not that he’s going to tell us.
"We’re no different to any other team, all teams have sat down when they met up, got together and set some targets, goals, we did it," he says.
"We’re not going to go shouting from the roof top.
"I’m sorry I’m repeating myself here but we’re solely focused on this Sunday, we want to put out a performance that reflects the work we are doing, that’s our only focus.
"We’ve set some goals and hopefully we can make that happen."
Follow Wales v Ireland (kick-off 3pm) on Sunday via our live blog on RTE.ie and the News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport. Highlights on Against the Head, Monday at 8.10pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
