Jamie Osborne feels ready to challenge for Ireland starting place

Jamie Osborne is ticking off the boxes, bit by bit, and the 23-year-old is hoping to tick another in the next few days.

After making his Test debut down in South Africa this summer, he got to experience a first taste of a home international in recent weeks when he came off the bench in the games against New Zealand and Argentina at Aviva Stadium.

And now, either this Saturday or next week, he's hoping to get in for a first Irish start on home soil.

"It'd be amazing," he says of the prospect of getting a start against Fiji on Saturday or Australia the following week.

"If I am lucky enough to be selected, I feel ready.

"Once you get the first cap there's just that relief of getting it done.

"Playing at home, the anthems, it was special. I know the All Blacks game didn't go to plan, but even to stand in front of the Haka for the first time was definitely a special experience. I loved it.

"I think the goal for everyone is probably to start but I’ve been lucky to be involved as well the last couple of weeks.

"I’ve covered different positions as well which is good experience I suppose. Hopefully I can get the start in one of the last two games anyway."

Andy Farrell will name his team this afternoon for Saturday’s meeting with Fiji and there’s a good chance that Osborne (below) will come into the starting side.

On Friday night, the versatile Leinster back made a big impression when he came off the bench against Argentina, with his performance described as "immense" by Farrell in the press conference after.

And while Osborne is relatively pleased with the impact he’s made in his early Test career, he believes there’s a lot of scope for improvement.

"Coming on at the same time as Sam [Prendergast], you both probably feel you have to come on