World Cup winner Andy Gomarsall is not ready to give up the ghost with Harlequins yet.
The 34-year-old has slipped behind Danny Care and Steve So'oialo in the scrum-half stakes at Quins.
But he made a rare outing in the 24-23 EDF challenge Cup defeat at Neath-Swansea Swansea Ospreys on Sunday.
Gomarsall said: "I've had a good chat with (Quins boss) Dean Richards to say where I was at.
"I was playing for a new contract, and I want to stay.
"I've said in the past how grateful I am to the club, and I want to keep my affiliation with them in whatever way I can.
"I feel in my head I still want to play, and the body is still in pretty good shape, and I'm desperate to carry on playing next year too."
However, Gomarsall admits he will have a battle on his hands to dislodge Care, who he reckons should be an England regular.
But even if he has to play second-fiddle, the former Gloucester man insists he'll be ready for action when needed.
He said: "I'm still obviously very competitive, but the form Danny has shown, for me to play just one good game doesn't warrant selection ahead of him by any stretch.
"He has come on in leaps and bounds.
"He is the stand-out England number nine by a country mile at the moment.
"I hope Martin Johnston and Brian Smith have been seeing that, because he is the best. He's going to be a real threat for England.
"When I first came to the club, he showed enormous patience, and at the moment I'm having to do the same.
"It's about the dynamics of the team, and Danny is playing so well at the moment, all I can do is keep my head down and keep playing to the best of my ability. The key for me is being ready to play if called upon."
The defeat in Swansea followed a midweek 30-23 Premiership win over Worcester, and Quins now turn their attention to the Heineken Cup.
Ahead of Saturday's trip to Llanelli Scarlets, Gomarsall reckons Quins can finally break their sixyear duck in the competition.
He added: "There are no surprises anymore. I'm expecting the games to go to the wire.
"We played Stade Francais last year, and other successful European teams, and we now have to believe that we are as good"
DAVID STRETTLE is expected to be sidelined for up to seven weeks with his injury sustained against Worcester.
It is a re-ocurrance of the injury he picked up playing for England last year,and although no surgey is required, he has been ordered to rest.
HARLEQUINS Rugby League's Rob Purdham has been selected for the England squad for the Rugby League World Cup, which begins in Australia later this month.
