OLD TIMER: Andrew Hore is hoping to end his test career with the All Blacks on his terms.

The curtain will come down on Andrew Hore's test career at the Aviva Stadium at 3am on Monday morning. Or will it?

Hore starts his 83rd, and what most are presuming will be his final, test for the All Blacks when they look to complete the elusive perfect year with a victory over Ireland in their season finale.

Hore has no Super Rugby contract for next year, and has already said the only team he figures on playing for is his Maniototo Maggots club side.

But All Blacks coach Steve Hansen yesterday added a shroud of mystery by saying he didn't know what Hore's plans were for next year, then revealing the veteran could still be picked for the national team from outside Super Rugby.

"Has he not told you guys yet what he's doing," said the coach rather cryptically. "He probably doesn't know himself at this point. I don't think he's got a Super contract and, that being the case, it comes down to desire and performance.

"It's going to be hard to judge his performance if he's not playing Super Rugby, but we'll just wait and see. I'm sure he'll tell you what he's doing when he knows what he's doing.

"I genuinely think he would still like to be there, but he also knows at some point he's going to have to step aside." Hansen confirmed Hore could still be an All Black without a Super Rugby spot.

"Anything's possible," he said. "We've picked players who are going overseas at the end of campaigns because they were the right person to pick. Our job is to pick the best team we possibly can, whatever the circumstances.

"If we lost Dane Coles, and maybe Keven Mealamu, and he's available and playing some rugby, and we deem his fitness to be good enough, we'd probably look at him.

"The key thing is he's playing this week and he needs to play well because the guy he's replacing (Mealamu) has been."

Meanwhile, Hansen urged rookie Wellington halfback TJ Perenara to dial down his excitement ahead of a potential test debut off the bench against Ireland.

Hansen said the 21-year-old was clearly excited about finally getting a chance in the test arena.

"He just needs to contain that excitement and use it in a positive manner rather than being like a demented moth round a lamp, and get too energised and try do everything at once. He's just got to be calm and accurate with what he does."

Perenara is one of eight All Blacks Hansen has drafted into the Barbarians team he will coach against Fiji at Twickenham on November 30. At this stage he's the invitation side's traditional uncapped player, though the All Blacks coach said there won't be an issue if he earns his first test cap this weekend.

He also confirmed Ardie Savea had not been picked for that match because "he's not ready"