Playing rugby isn't like going to work for Bundee Aki.
Until that changes, he will go on.
"The only time I think I'll be hanging up the boots is when I feel like I can't give any more or I feel like my rugby is a job and I'm not loving it," said the Connacht star this week.
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In fact Aki, who turns 34 early next month, has improved with age. He is now one of the world's best centres - as he proved at last year's World Cup finals.
He has maintained that form into the Six Nations, where he has again been one of Ireland's best performers.
If, as expected, they finish on top of the table tonight then he will have won his third Six Nations title since 2018.
Despite the accolades and focus on him reaching a new performance level, Aki insists that it isn't technical changes to have got him to the highest point in his career.
But something has altered and he is quick to deflect praise onto his team-mates.
"I think I’ve just grown in confidence and the confidence comes from the guys around me," he said.
"I know it’s a cliché but it really is the guys around me making me look good.
"Look, I know individual accolades and individual recognition is good but it’s a team sport.
"It’s how guys make you feel, how they make you look. It’s just those guys making me look good.
"I'm just doing what I’m doing as a player and the guys around me are making me look good. I’m just doing what I’m told to do.
"It’s my teammates around me making everything look a lot easier so I’m just there to make sure that I do my job properly as well as helping out the others."
He singles out Robbie Henshaw, his centre partner in this Six Nations, for huge praise.
"He's been unbelievable," said Aki. "Robbie's always been class.
"He's always been unlucky with a few injuries but I genuinely believe he's the best No.12 in the world the way he has been playing."
Certainly, Aki has been inspired by the growing young fanbase who see him as their hero.
The love for the abrasive back who moved from Auckland to Galway a decade ago is clear from the support he got from hordes of schoolkids at Ireland's recent open training session at the Aviva Stadium.
"I've had unbelievable support in Ireland. I genuinely mean it," he said.
"I genuinely do appreciate the support. The way for me to repay the rapport and the love is through how I play.
"I can't go say 'thank you' to everyone individually because there's a shedload of them out there.
"But through the way I play with the help of the lads, it's my way of showing I do really mean this and I really do care about this country,
"I really do care about the people here and the jersey. That means a lot to me."
Aki knows from having heroes himself that he has a responsibility to perform.
"It's huge," he said. "I remember when I was a kid and when you see a hero, you obviously want to do so well.
"I want to do so well to make sure I keep inspiring those young guys or those young girls, trying to be myself and making sure they understand that anyone can do what they want to do."
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