Steven Davis is desperate to return from a serious knee injury and feature for Rangers and Northern Ireland again.
The most-capped British footballer is out injured after a double ACL tear in training which required surgery.
Davis is back on his feet but admits he must be "realistic" in his goals when coming back from the major injury problem.
"Everybody knows how much it means to me to play for Northern Ireland, the relationship I've had with the fans and country throughout my career," Davis told BBC.
"The prospect of pulling on the green shirt again, and the Rangers shirt, is a driving factor for me, although I know it is going to be a long and difficult road ahead.
"If the rehab goes well I may have a chance to be involved in the last few international games of the year, but before that it'd be nice to be there with the squad, part of the camp for a change of scenery and to add something to the group and be amongst it."
While Davis is hopeful of a playing return after the injury setback, the 38-year-old hasn't made any decisions on his future in football.
However, the Rangers favourite is determined to avoid the injury becoming career-defining.
He added: "I've got to be realistic - it's a big injury and takes a lot of time to come back from.
"At my age and the stage I'm at in my career I know it's going to be difficult but I've always been a very fit person so that should stand me in good stead and give me the best possible chance [of playing again].
"I haven't made any decisions about moving forward, I'll just concentrate on 'rehabbing' to the best of my ability and stay focused. I don't want this to be the defining moment that ends my playing career."
With Davis currently slowly progressing in his rehab, the midfielder is having to alter his expectations after coming to terms with a gradual improvement in fitness.
And he's also keen to use the layoff in the best possible way by completing his coaching badges.
He said: "The last few weeks have been slow progress but I have to try and show patience and it is a chance for me to learn and grow as a person.
"I haven't had the experience of a real long-term injury during my career so I'm thankful in the sense but frustrated because at my age you don't know how long you have left in football as a player and you want to maximise that time you have left.
"Mentally it's been more difficult than I expected, coming in every day and not seeing the progress on a daily basis.
"You have to hit certain targets as you go along, break it into five or six-week phases, tick a box and then move onto the next phase.
"I'm still in the initial phase, getting the swelling down and the range back in the leg, assessing things as we go along.
"It's difficult [watching matches], knowing that you might not get an opportunity to do that again but I'm very driven to try and get myself back out there.
"It gives me time to grow away from that too, whether that be looking into my coaching or doing something outside of that, make the most of my time.
"I still need to do my coaching badges. That's one I want to tick off this year."
Michael Beale previously commented: "We've a plan for Steven. He's someone we want around the club as a player then helping him in his second career if he chooses that route.
"I believe he will have an operation in early January then we will sit and talk. Knowing Steven, I think he will want to continue to play and I think he can still play."
