The 34-year-old’s inspirational display in Ireland’s 30-22 win in Wales last weekend saw him once more catapulted in to the spotlight with a spot on a fourth Lions tour looking a distinct possibility and much speculation that he could be installed as captain.

But while younger players may be distracted by the constant talk about the three-Test series in Australia, O’Driscoll is fully aware it can and should be a positive rather than a negative.

"There's more chat about the Lions now, more column inches. Every week there are new Lions teams for that week," said O’Driscoll, who is set to win his 122nd Ireland cap when England visit Dublin on Sunday.

“It’s impossible with the amount of conversation, the amount that’s written, the amount that’s spoken about the Lions not to get caught up in it, but it is important not to let your mind wander here and there.

“But I understand too, that the Six Nations is a means to that end. If you can get this bit right then you give yourself more of a chance of being involved in something in the summer.

“Look back on different tours, in 2005, when Wales won the Slam they got a lot of players on the tour. We did in 2009, so it’s in every team’s best interests rather than just the individual. If the collective can go well the individual is going to be rewarded as a result.

“It’s a huge honour to be a Lion, a great honour to be among the top 35 players in the home nations. So you do everything you can, it’s definitely an added incentive in the Six Nations in a Lions year, to get your performances to as high a level as you can.”