Nor does he playing finals footy, which is why the Tamworth product can’t wait to rip in when the Waratahs make their first Super Rugby finals appearance in three years at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

The 29-year old will start from the bench in the only remaining Australian hopes’ knock-out quarter-final clash with the Highlanders.

“It will be great. It’s been too long,” Ryan said.

The Waratahs last reached the play-offs in 2015. The defending champions that year, their run was coincidentally ended by the Highlanders.

Ryan was part of the Waratahs set-up then but believes they have the recipe, and the arsenal, to beat the New-Zealand side and live on to fight another week.

“The best thing is that we know when we get our style right we can sort of stick it to anyone. I think that’s been most exciting part of this year. We’ve seen that in Christchurch, we saw it the last time we played the Highlanders and I just think it’s an exciting prospect,” he said.

After a final round hiccup against the Brumbies, he spoke about needing to get the fortitude back in their defence and look to use their defence as a weapon.

“It’s an old adage but it’s very true - defence wins premierships,” Ryan said.

The Highlanders finished fourth in the New Zealand conference, and are in many ways, the former Pirate said, kind of “modern day traditionalists” in the way they play.

“They like to play territory and then hope for your mistakes, so I mean they can look quite expansive at times but in many ways they’re quite conservative,” he said.

“They kick the ball away a lot then then when they think the opposition are quite fatigued or they can manipulate a bit of space they’ll have a crack but that’s usually off the back of a decision made by one of the Smiths’ - Ben or Aaron.”

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Because they turn them around a lot, they are the side the Waratahs have in recent seasons probably struggled the most against, but Ryan believes they are better equipped to handle that.

“I don’t think that will factor in as much this week just due to the different fitness levels they’ve got us at and just the way the boys have played,” he said.

“We play a lot smarter in the terms of how we play the territory game and I think excusing last week where we leaked 40 points I think our defence has been pretty good.”

He’s obviously hoping not, but it could be his last game in a Waratahs jersey.

He is contracted until the end of the season and at this stage is “undecided on what the future will hold”.

“But I’m very much looking forward to getting into this game and going from there,” he said.

He admittedly hasn’t seen the game time he would like this season but is happy to do what’s best for the team.

“I don’t love it (being on the bench) but if that’s my job, I’m so proud to be a Waratah that I’ll turn up and come on and do my best for two minutes if that’s what they want,” he said.

“If they want me to play 30 or want me to play 80 I’ll do that. Because being a Waratah is an absolute privilege and I sure as hell don’t take it for granted.”