"Well mate, every time I've said I'm going to hang them up, I haven't hung them up," McMahon laughed.

The 38-year-old flyhalf will lead the Canberra Royals into the John I Dent Cup decider against the Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park on Saturday.

Then what? Is this finally it for the man that burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced rookie in 2001?

"I'm going to leave it open in the hope it will trick me into hanging them up," McMahon said.

"The reality is, probably. I really just love it. I love the game and I love the club.

"The club has been my vehicle for loving the game so much over the years and it's a hard thing to give up, absolutely, but I've got to face reality - and that is I'm getting on a bit. We'll see."

MORE CANBERRA RUGBY

It has been four years since McMahon led Royals to a drought-breaking premiership in 2015 before walking away from the top grade.

If you wanted to see him at Phillip Oval come first grade kick-off on a Saturday, you were more likely to catch him turning sausages than steering Royals around the park.

Then the former premiership-winning skipper was a surprise inclusion in the dying minutes of a clash with Tuggeranong in 2017 having not played first grade for almost two years.

That was supposed to be it. Then Royals coach Wayne Southwell called again last year.

"We were a bit thin on blokes in the outside backs for one reason or another," McMahon said.

"I was back for one game, we did alright in that game and I ended up staying for three until I injured my groin pretty badly. I thought that was curtains then, but I've been able to get it back to full strength.

"I got fit over the off-season and expected to play third or fourth grade, and it's just not how it worked out which is pretty good.

"It was certainly unexpected from the start of the year, but even getting close, you can never expect to be in a grand final.

"It's just one of those things that comes along and it's a great opportunity."

JOHN I DENT CUP GRAND FINAL DAY

Saturday: John I Dent Cup - Canberra Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings at Viking Park, 3.25pm.

Second grade - Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles at Viking Park, 1.25pm.

Colts - Canberra Royals v Queanbeyan Whites at Viking Park, 11.35am.

Women's - Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals at Viking Park, 1.15pm.

First Division first grade - Gungahlin Eagles v Goulburn at Viking Park, 11.25am.

First Division second grade - Queanbeyan Whites v Wests at Viking Park, 9.35am.