Johnny Sexton says it wouldn't be right to stay at Leinster as a coach given his current position as a player as he claims Ireland will face the best-ever Scotland side he has encountered at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Sexton, 37, is set to hang up his boots either after the Rugby World Cup in September and October or at the end of next season.
His province will be in transition this summer in terms of their coaching model as Stuart Lancaster is Racing 92-bound, but while Sexton is keen to step into a new role, he is confident it will happen - initially at least - outside of rugby.
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"I would never say never because you never know what life is going to throw at you," said the Leinster and Ireland skipper, who returns to action after a groin injury this weekend.
"It's not in my plans straight away. I don't think it would be right straight away if offers did come in, it wouldn't be right for me to go in and coach with guys that I've played with for the last number of years, and I certainly wouldn't want to jeopardise this year because if they find out you're going in coaching, the relationship changes straight away.
"No, I won't be doing it for the foreseeable future anyway. But rugby is my passion. It's all I've known for the last 20 years, longer even, since I was a kid.
"I'll find it hard to step away from the game but I think it's important to do it, to step away, try another walk of life and then we'll see what happens.
"I'll go and see if I can do something in the business world and get involved there. I've been doing a bit of work experience over the last two years, one day a week, so I'll go into that and see how that goes.
"But it might not be for me - I might get the itch straight away, come out of retirement and play for Mary's!".
The out-half makes his return this week after he was forced to miss the third round victory over Italy as Ireland kept their winning run going in this campaign.
Uini Atonio landed on his hip in the victory over France and it hurt the veteran's groin, but Sexton can become the Six Nations' all-time top points scorer on Saturday if he scores eight points or more to dislodge his friend Ronan O'Gara in top spot.
"Yeah, it's something that people say to you or you see it on social media," Sexton shrugged. "Irish Rugby tagged me in something today, which I wasn't too happy about!
"It's there but I don't think it's going to add any pressure to me or anything like that. It's not something I ever set out to do. I'd rather not score another point and win a championship, win a Grand Slam than get the points record.
"It doesn't bother me too much. If it comes, fantastic, but it's not something I lose sleep over.
"It would be a bonus but it's not in my thoughts. My thoughts are about making the team win. If the right decision is to go to the corner and pass on points, I will do that.
"It's nothing, really. But if you do it, it's an amazing mark to do. Ronan obviously had an amazing career and even just to be in that same conversation is enough for me."
Although they lost to France last time out, Scotland have shown excellent form to date and Gregor Townsend's side want to land a first Triple Crown in 33 years by beating Ireland.
"I would say it’s definitely the best Scottish team I’ve ever played," Sexton said.
"I think some of the results show that, beating England regularly, beating France a few times, obviously beating Wales as well recently, so they’ve had some big wins over the last number of years and they’ve been building nicely.
“They’ve brought in a lot of new players over the last couple of years as well which has made the team stronger. So, it’s definitely the best, yeah.
"Scotland going for the Triple Crown is something that we’re going to have to acknowledge because it’s going to make for a very special atmosphere over there I’m sure. It always is a very special atmosphere even if there was nothing on the line.
“But it’s a huge game now with them going for a Triple Crown and still in the championship, and us obviously in the Championship and obviously wanting to try and win a Triple Crown ourselves.
“Yeah, it’s a massive game, so it's great to be a part of.”
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