Just two years into his three-year contract with the Western Force in the Super 14, Sharpe announced he would consider following the likes of former Wallabies Toutai Kefu, Chris Whitaker and Matt Burke to see out their careers overseas.

"I think I've got to take it year by year," Sharpe told www.rugbyexclusive.com. "I'm going to have to look at it after the World Cup, how my body is going and how I'm feeling mentally.

"I'm off contract in 2008 and that will be the first time that I will seriously consider moving off-shore. It will become a line-ball decision as to what I do."

Sharpe made it clear he is not disenchanted with his current team, despite finishing at the bottom of the Super 14 table in its inaugural year with the big 29-year-old as skipper.

"I'm loving playing at the moment and that's a pretty good sign," he said.

"I guess I'll have to see how I'm playing and if I'm enjoying the game, but 2008 presents a huge amount of options for me to look at."

The 54-Test veteran indicated his main goals for this year was helping the Force to a better year in the Super 14 and the World Cup in France before organising his future.

"That's something that I'll reassess after the World Cup and go from there," he said. "I'm starting to put the feelers out and see how things shape up from there.

"It's pretty exciting. To be in that situation is always a bit daunting, but definitely for me, obviously, the World Cup is the point where I know I'm going. After that I'll consider my options and weigh them up."

In the meantime, Sharpe will be looking at motivating the Force in their match against the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend after the Aussies suffered a demoralising 8-7 loss to the Highlanders in Perth in the opening round of this year's Super 14.

"The guys are looking forward to the challenge. There is general disappointment at how we played against the Highlanders. You can expect a big turnaround," added Sharpe.