Wayne Pivac says there's every chance that Alun Wyn Jones will be joining Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but admits it will be a "massive challenge" for the veteran second row.
Wales have been drawn in Pool C for the 2023 tournament in France and will, incredibly, take their place alongside Australia and Fiji yet again, in a repeat of their 2019 and 2015 World Cup pool.
The Wales skipper, who currently has 152 Test caps to his name when including Lions appearances, will turn 38 during the tournament in three years, which could also feature a quarter-final showdown with bitter rivals England.
But after a somewhat tricky 2020, there are already questions over how Pivac will shape his team for the tournament and whether the veteran Ospreys lock will have a role to play given his advancing years.
Pivac himself says the decision will ultimately lie with Alun Wyn himself.
Speaking after the draw was made on Monday in Paris, Pivac said: "It will be a massive challenge for him but if there’s any player that could do it, Alun Wyn’s that guy.
"He looks after himself so well, prepares so well and knows the landscape very, very well.
"He knows what it takes to get into that shape.
"He’ll be the one that decides that in terms of where his mind and body is at.
"It’s certainly a massive challenge for him but he loves those sorts of challenges."
