Western Force captain Matt Hodgson will play a 12th and likely final Super Rugby season next year ahead of his transition into coaching.
The 35-year-old flanker, a veteran with 11 Wallaby caps, has signed on to add to his club-record 131 games with the Perth-based franchise.
Hodgson's 2017 campaign will include a mentoring aspect before he joins Dave Wessels' coaching panel in 2018.
"I want to become a mentor to the younger players coming through," Hodgson said.
"I've already worked closely with the coaching team over the last four years and, to do this in a more official way with Blood (Dave Wessels) and the other coaches, is a great opportunity."
Hodgson played 11 games of the 2016 season before dislocating his shoulder.
He was the competition's leading tackler at the time of the injury.
Hodgson also missed the first 10 rounds last year because of a hamstring injury, before returning to play a star role for the team.
Hodgson and front-rower Pek Cowan are the last remaining foundation players at the Force.
