Geordan Murphy will do whatever he can to ensure he is part of Ireland's World Cup campaign in New Zealand next year.
Murphy is set to win his 65th cap against Wales on Saturday but the Leicester Tiger player is already looking forward to next year's World Cup and has set his sights on being a member of Declan Kidney's squad.
A broken leg meant the 31-year-old missed the 2003 tournament in Australia and was left frustrated by Ireland's failure to make it out of the group stages in France four years later.
A contract extension at Leicester has given him hope that he will be able to convince Kidney that he deserves to be on the plane to New Zealand.
"That’s my next goal. I didn’t get to go to the 2003 tournament because I broke my leg and I was disappointed with the last one because I didn’t get to see much game time," Murphy said.
"I certainly want to be involved in the next one and I’ll do whatever I can to get on that plane."
Murphy was drafted into the starting XV against England in place of the injured Rob Kearney and he has been given the nod ahead of the Leinster player for Saturday's clash at Croke Park.
Despite his selection the Leicester captain accepts that he faces a battle to keep Kearney out of the side in future, but he is ready for the challenge.
"I know I only got into the side because Rob got injured. I was obviously delighted to get the call but I felt sorry for Rob. I know enough about being injured to have sympathy when it happens to others and it’s not the cutthroat scene you might think when you’re competing for places," he added.
"Rob has looked good (in training) and I thought if he was fit and picked I couldn’t really have any gripe because he was the guy in possession of the jersey before he got injured. But I’ll take being picked because it’s always a huge thrill and honour to get to play for your country.
"It would be the same for Rob; there is more to come from him and he will only get better because he’s a quality player. But being there challenging is a good thing. I want to play as well as I can and keep putting pressure on him and that might help him improve as a player as well."