Two-time premiership winner Chris Heighington will make a call on his NRL future in the next month, as he weighs up retirement.
Cronulla forward Heighington is off contract at the end of the year, and will turn 35 next January.
"I'm not too sure if I'm going to play on or retire," said Heighington on Monday, ahead of Thursday night's grand final rematch with Melbourne.
"I'll probably (decide) over the next month to be honest. I will sit down with the family and sit down with the club and see where they're at."
Heighington has played 306 games since his debut for the Wests Tigers in 2003, and has won premierships with both the Tigers in 2005 and the Sharks last year.
If his decision was based purely on current form, Heighington would be swinging towards another season and he gave a hint that may be the case.
Despite averaging less than 30 minutes a game off the bench this year, he is still running 95 metres per match and having plenty of impact in attack.
"The body is good, I'm doing alright on the field so it's looking like I might play on," he said.
Heighington admitted if he was squeezed out of the Sharks due to salary cap constraints and attracted no other interest in the NRL, he would be unlikely to head overseas.
While the Australian-born back rower played his fifth Test for England last month, he had no thoughts of playing in the Super League.
"I would like to stay in Australia ideally ... If it's not here, I'll probably retire," he said.
Heighington is the last of the Sharks' older off-contract guard - along with Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen - to decide their future.
Lewis, 33, confirmed earlier this year he planned to play another season.
Meanwhile Gallen said he had already began discussing plans with the Sharks to play beyond his 37th birthday next year, as he continued to average 175 metres per game this season.
"He could play for another few more years I reckon," Heighington said.
"His performance against the Bulldogs (in round 12) was outstanding - the best I've seen in a long time."
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