Nathan Doak wouldn't quite describe his situation as desperate but feels that now is the right time to stake his Ireland claim.
The Ulster scrum-half made his international debut in Friday night's Guinness Six Nations victory over Wales at Aviva Stadium.
The Antrim man was among the standout players from the 2021 Ireland Under-20s crop and made his provincial breakthrough back in the 2021/22 when he appeared 25 times.
The 24-year-old has played over 100 times for Richie Murphy's side and went on tour with the Ireland squad last summer but didn't see any game time.
An early blood injury for Jamison Gibson-Park saw Doak run on for an unexpected first-half cameo and he returned again for the final five minutes of the 27-17 win.
Asked about bidding his time, Doak admitted there was an element of frustration but couldn't hide his delight at earning a first senior cap.
"When you've been around quite a bit, at such a young age, you're just eager to get in there, because that's where your aspirations are," he said.
"But, at the same time, Ulster have to be playing well, and you have to be at the forefront of that to get in here because it's not easy to play for Ireland.
"They've been the best team in the world. It's kind of showing that Ulster are doing well, and we're reaping the benefits of that, that we're finally getting a chance in here.
"I don't think desperate is the right word. I think every player wants to play for Ireland.
"I have a hundred caps in the URC, so I'm well experienced and I have had to wait my time, but I have had to get better at my game to deserve a shot.
"So, I feel like this is the right time for me, now I feel like I'm playing my best rugby with the minute, so that was quite fitting."
Doak was among friends on Friday with seven Ulster players featuring in the matchday squad, a testament to how the team are playing in the URC and in Europe.
"It's class," said the former Wallace High School student, who made 23 passes in his 13 minutes of action.
"I think there is a stat during the week that there were no Ulster players in the last Wales game, to having seven tonight.
"The work that we're putting in up there and that we're desperate to come and play for the green jersey, because that's where all our aspirations are.
"All the lads have made me feel very at home throughout the whole week, through the last four or five weeks or so. It's really easy to fit in here and be yourself."
Doak's father Neil played for Ulster and was on the fringes of the senior Ireland set-up in the early 2000s. He was able to pass on some words of wisdom.
"Just to relax, be yourself, and you know you deserve to be there," said Doak when asked about his father's advice.
"He's helped me throughout my whole career, a sounding board for me. I haven't spoken to him that much after the game, but I know he'd be delighted."
Doak (above), who was due to sing Robbie William's Angels to mark his first cap, got eight minutes in the first half when Gibson-Park suffered a cut to his leg.
He said: "I don't actually think that's happened to me before.
"But, because it was so quick, you don't have time to think, so it was actually quite a nice thing as well, and then obviously makes it easier coming on the second time as well. So it helps settle nerves.
"I think the biggest thing for me was just I wanted to be myself, and I was probably thinking about how I feel out there and I felt really calm.
"I think that's the biggest takeaway I'll have is I want to play at this level and have the confidence to play at this level, so I'll go back and have a look at this game and see where I can get better."
