"I will have a long break and that will give me time to think about things," said Harper.
"I don't want to go through another season like the last one. I signed a contract last summer but I didn't sign it to sit on the bench for three years.
"People say I'm just one injury away from playing but I've nicknamed Shay `Lazarus'.
"He has that many little knocks but has always managed to play. He doesn't give in and even if he cut his leg off he'd want to play."