Rory Best looks set to retire after the Rugby World Cup later this year.
The Ireland captain admits he expects to hang up the boots after the showpiece event in Japan, calling an end to his illustrious career.
"I think it's fairly certain that the World Cup will be the end for me," he said at the captain's run ahead of Ireland's Six Nations clash with France on Sunday.
"I think that I feel really good, I don't feel I'm playing any worse. I'm really enjoying rugby and part of that might be because I haven't 100 per cent made the decision but I'm fairly sure it will be, and part of the reason I'm enjoying rugby so much, and I hope playing well, is because there's that weight lifted off.
"When you're playing, you start to get fixated with what's coming, or if you're playing well in this Six Nations you put yourself in the window for the World Cup.
"And if you play well in the World Cup there's two more Six Nations and you're in the window to the Lions tour and you start to get bogged down with things that don't really matter," he added.
Best is one of Ireland's most decorated captains - leading his country to only a third ever Grand Slam win in 2018. He was also at the helm for Ireland's first ever win over New Zealand in 2016. His side followed up that epic victory with a first win over the same opposition in Dublin last November.
The Ulsterman currently sits third in the all-time Irish caps list with 115 - behind Brian O'Driscoll (133) and Ronan O'Gara (128).
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