At 34 many pundits will suggest he is past his 'sell by' date, but mercurial All Black Carlos Spencer is confident he is still physically and mentally in good enough shape to play Super 14 rugby.

Speaking to iafrica.com, before heading back to England where he was going to "wrap up a few things", Spencer explained exactly why he took the offer from the struggling Johannesburg-based Lions outfit and what his goals are for the next two seasons.

Spencer, who arrived in Johannesburg last week and spent a few days with the team at a training camp in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, may still be required to play one more game for English club Gloucester - in their final Heineken Cup fixture against Newport Gwent Dragons next Sunday.

However, after that he is full-time on board in Johannesburg and "looking forward" to making a major contribution to restoring some pride in the Lions.

He said he still has the "mindset that comes along with the Super 14" and is also very keen on coaching - which is what attracted him to the offer from Lions head coach Dick Muir.

Asked about his age and the perception that he may no longer have the ability to play in a high-paced competition like the Super 14, Spencer said the only way to find out is to "get out there and start playing again".

"I have looked after myself over the last few years and I have kept myself in pretty good nick," he told iafrica.com, adding: "My body is in pretty good shape and I have been injury free for the last five years while I've been in the UK.

"Physically I feel really good and mentally I'm still keen to play ... so mate, I'm fine."

'Looking forward to' Super 14

He admitted that there is a marked difference to the way teams in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere approach the game.

"Definitely, the mindset is very different in the Super 14 and it is something I am looking forward to," he said about playing Super Rugby for the first time in five years.

"I think I have the mindset that comes along with the Super 14," he said about his style of play, adding: "I like to play rugby and enjoy myself.

"I don't think I will have a problem fitting into that at all."

Spencer, affectionately known as 'King Carlos' because of his skilful displays during a 35-Test cap All Black career, said the Lions' offer came out of the blue.

He joined Gloucester last year on a 17-month contract, after the vastly experienced and supremely gifted playmaker was released by mutual consent from Northampton Saints. Spencer joined the Saints in 2005 in one of the highest profile signings the Guinness Premiership.

"I didn't really have any other offers, mainly because I wasn't really looking," he said about the decision to join the Lions.

"I had a contract with Gloucester till the end of the year, then this opportunity came up with the Lions.

"I thought it would be a great opportunity to get back into Super 14 rugby and finish my career off.

'Coaching role'

"The thing that convinced me to come is that they were prepared to give me a coaching role, which is something I always looked forward to doing and that is probably the main reason," he added.

Asked about his goals at the Lions, Spencer said he wants to help the team succeed after years of propping up the bottom end of the Super Rugby table.

"They have set goals and I want to help them achieve that and help out the young guys that are here as well. I want to be successful and do as well as I can for this team."

He said he has no immediate plans after his contract with the Lions run out in 2011.

"My main concern is the next two [Super Rugby] seasons with the Lions and I don't really want to think too far beyond that. I want to concentrate at one thing at a time and right now just sort of getting settled in here and getting stuck into things and not much beyond that."

Spencer flew back to Gloucester at the weekend and will be on standby if the club needs him for their final Heineken Cup league fixture against the Welsh outfit, the Dragons, next Sunday.

"I was always going to fly back to Gloucester, as I have to sort out my house and put everything into storage," he told iafrica.com, when asked about his return to England.

"This thing [at the Lions] have sort of come out of nowhere and I have been rushing around for the last few weeks."

Bryan Redpath's Gloucester brought Biarritz's unbeaten Heineken Cup run to a crashing end at the weekend, with the Cherry and Whites recording an impressive 23-8 win over the Pool Two high-flyers. Nicky Robinson, who played at flyhalf in the win over the French giants, will most likely start in the No.10 jersey against the Dragons, but Spencer must be on standby.

After that he is fulltime on board at the Lions.