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Cape Town - Dale Steyn is back in the Proteas set-up for the upcoming two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, but he has no plans on hanging up his boots any time soon.
Steyn, who has 419 Test wickets to his name, needs just two more to equal Shaun Pollock as the highest South African wicket-taker in Test history.
If he plays in Sri Lanka he will be expected to do that, but the biggest key for the 34-year-old at the moment is to stay fit.
Steyn is currently enjoying a month-long stint of county cricket with Hampshire, and he made his return to red ball cricket this past weekend where he took 2/91 in 26 overs against Surrey.
In a revealing interview with Cricinfo, Steyn explained that the Test record was something he was thinking about, but that he was thinking even further ahead than that.
"It's been in the back of my mind for about two-and-a-half years now. I've only needed about five wickets for two years," Steyn laughed.
"Right now, I think my most important goal is just to come and play cricket again where I don't get injured.
"I'll worry about that (the record) when i get to Sri Lanka and worry about how to get wickets."
The World Cup next year, Steyn added, was still a possibility.
"I think it's all about how much cricket you can play. At my age, I'm 35, and I still want to play a lot of cricket. I think I can push until I'm 38, maybe even 39," he said.
"If I'm going to be representing South Africa and if I'm going to be spending that time on the sidelines, then that's when you might have to weigh that option.
"It's a discussion that myself and Ottis (Gibson, coach) might have to have going forward, especially with the World Cup. He's assured me that a fit Dale Steyn is in the 11, so I'm taking his word on that.
"Hopefully I can get the nod and get past Polly's record and hopefully achieve some of the personal goals I've set out to achieve. I'll play as long as my name is up there to represent South Africa."
The first Test between the Proteas and Sri Lanka starts on July 12 in Galle.
