The former Wales captain, who will make his first RBS 6 Nations Championship appearance of the season as a replacement against Italy in Rome on Saturday, claimed he would be available after the World Cup if his country needed him.

I am certainly not going to walk away, stated the 32-year-old British Lion, who is back after serving a three-week ban for bringing the game into disrepute following a spat with Ulster fans playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup.

I know when my time is right. I might be told it's time to go now, or if I'm around this time next year, I can help the country out in any kind of capacity.

I just think that most countries start building for a World Cup when the last one ends.

There are a couple of things that could happen. They could decide to have a bit of a clear-out of the older guys and start building for the next World Cup or say, okay, keep a couple of experienced heads in there while the youngsters are coming through and then stick around as a squad member as well, I don't know.

Thomas has dismissed closing in on his 100th cap as he pays little attention to such statistics.

Thomas, who has 90 caps, said of the prospect of being his countrys most-capped player: It is hard to answer that because I really don't give a damn.

It has never mattered to me; it has mattered to everybody else. Of course it is an achievement, but it doesn't mean that much to me.

I am happy to be here, proud to have played for my country and proud to have pulled on the jersey for my country.

If I can carry on playing until 35 I will be happy. But again, if I am still fit, enjoying what I am doing, if I don't feel as if I am letting my team-mates down, who knows? You look at Llew (Gareth Llewellyn), it is amazing what he is doing.