Cronulla veteran Chris Heighington has confirmed he wants to extend his career into a 16th NRL season, opting against retiring at the end of the year.

Following in the footsteps of senior teammates Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen, the 35-year-old has opened up negotiations with the Sharks to stay at the club in 2018.

“We’re talking to the club at the moment, I’m pretty keen to play on,” Heighington said.

“While I’m playing alright and doing my bit for the team I still want to play.”

Heighington’s announcement comes after 33-year-old Lewis put pen to paper to stay with the club for another season last week.

Coach Shane Flanagan has also confirmed that captain Gallen is also close to re-signing on a one-year deal which will see him play on beyond his 37th birthday.

And Heighington said that if the Sharks consider a third player who will be 35 or older next year one too many, he is keen to take his services elsewhere in the NRL.

“I love playing and my body’s feeling good and not many injuries,” he said.

“We’ll have to wait and see, as you get older you get down the pecking order of when they re-sign you.

“It will probably be Christmas by the time I re-sign.”

Heighington debuted with the Wests Tigers in 2003, and won a premiership there in 2005 before shifting to the Sharks in 2013 and claiming another title last year.

He passed the 300-game barrier earlier this season, and has missed just two matches since the start of last season.

He has also played four Tests for England – one as recently as this season – but has previously ruled out moving to the Super League to extend his career.