The 24-year-old featured in four of Ireland’s five games during the RBS 6 Nations – starting each in the midfield – and is keen to keep hold of the shirt.

However the absence of Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald for Ireland’s summer trip to New Zealand could tempt Declan Kidney to move Earls back out wide, especially with skipper Brian O’Driscoll back in action again.

And while Earls has enjoyed his fair share of time at centre for Munster he’s keen to leave incoming coach Rob Penney in no doubt as to his preference.

“Hopefully, the first day he comes, I’ll be going straight into him and say, ‘look, I want to play 13’,” he told the Irish Times.

“I don’t want to play on the wing any more. It’s not my position and I don’t enjoy it so, hopefully, I want to improve as a 13. I don’t want to keep mixing and matching. Hopefully I can start creating space for my wingers.

“I’ve played in the centre all season and I’ve enjoyed it and I’m getting better, defensively especially, putting in more tackles in a game and getting a lot more confident. Whereas on the wing, I don’t have great confidence there.

“[For Ireland] Getting selected is the first thing and then I’ll deal with that when that comes, if Deccie needs me to play on the wing.

“But I’ll let my feelings be known that I don’t feel comfortable on the wing anymore and I want to be a centre.”