CONTRACT talks can wait, calls Gloucester hooker Tommaso d'Apice.
The Italian front-rower has pledged to shelve his plans for the future – at least until after Saturday's Premiership clash with Saracens at Kingsholm (kick-off 3pm).
Ten-cap hooker d'Apice's Kingsholm deal runs out at the end of the season: he has several options but no firm plan yet for next term.
It remains to be seen whether he can win himself a new Gloucester contract.
But with Australian hooker Huia Edmonds now sidelined with knee ligament damage, a new opening with the Cherry and Whites could yet arise.
Former Brumbies man Edmonds suffered knee trouble in Gloucester's 32-9 league defeat at Sale on Friday night.
Gloucester boss Nigel Davies has said medics are still waiting for swelling to subside before being able to assess the extent of his injury.
Should the free-running 30-year-old's knee problem prove long-term then Gloucester could well seek another addition at hooker for next season.
Highly-rated Academy graduate Koree Britton has already signed a new deal for next term, joining Edmonds and Darren Dawidiuk under contract next season.
D'Apice's future may remain uncertain at the current moment, but Gloucester's state of flux and interest from other clubs suggest he is by no means in limbo.
Edmonds' injury and Darren Dawidiuk's continued ban for his red card in Gloucester's 31-25 league defeat at Bath on Friday, March 1 mean Britton and d'Apice will cover hooker this weekend.
Benevento-born d'Apice has just six Cherry and Whites bows to his name so far this term.
But every time he has featured he has impressed – and he is raring to go for his first Gloucester action since the 26-7 LV=Cup defeat at Northampton on January 26.
He explained: "Everything else now is out, because we must focus on this end of the season.
"I can't focus on what's happening away from the field, I just have to do my best in this match.
"Whatever comes after that comes after.
"It's always the hardest part of the year, with injuries, people become tired after a long season, and then there are other things happening off the field too.
"But you must focus and battle and fight as hard as you can, because everything is still to play for.
"Saracens are one of the best teams, but we've proven plenty of times we can beat the best.
"If we play the way we know we can, if we put our bodies on the line and show our true heart on the field, then we can beat anyone.
"And I truly think we can get a win this weekend.
"I think this is a big chance for me, after a long time out of the team.
"And of course first of all it's a big chance for the team after a poor match against Sale.
"So we've worked very hard this week, we've worked on ourselves and our approach.
"We've put in a lot of hours on our set-piece because that was weakened slightly last week.
"And I'm happy because I have a big chance now, and I'm ready to do my best and show my worth."
D'Apice believes Gloucester can see off table-toppers Saracens – provided they hit new levels of heart and desire.
And he is ready to help those leaving Gloucester in the summer sign off in style in their farewell Kingsholm appearance.
The committed Italian may or may not number among them – but for now he will not fret about a problem he cannot control in the short-term, especially with gritty Saracens rolling into town.
He continued: "I think it's the most important game of the season now, of course.
"I hope we still have a chance to make the top-four, but we focus only on this match against Saracens at home.
"It's a massive match at home, in front of the Kingsholm fans, and that's always special.
"It's the last game at home of the season – there will be a lot of emotion surrounding that.
"There will be a great atmosphere in the stadium and there will be the same out on the field.
"When you are at home in front of your fans you are confident.
"I think and I hope it will be a good match."
