Justin Marshall is relishing Sunday's EDF Cup final against Leicester

The 33-year-old scrum-half, who won 81 New Zealand caps, joined the Ospreys on a two-year deal in April 2006.

Mike Phillips' arrival next season from the Blues sparked rumours that Marshall could move, but he is eager to stay.

"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else, I love being involved with the Ospreys," he told BBC Wales Scrum V.

"I have so settled in well down here, the people have made me feel at home.

"I'm living out on Gower, it's lovely out there - especially at this time of the year - and the team treat me well, I'm managed well. The Ospreys are fantastic."

Marshall, who joined from Leeds Tykes, had been linked with a move away from the Liberty Stadium, with French giants Stade Francais believed to be one possibility.

But the Kiwi will now contest the Ospreys number nine shirt for at least the next season with Wales scrum-half Phillips.

The pair clashed in the semi-finals of the EDF Cup last month, with Marshall outplaying his younger rival as the Ospreys beat the Blues 27-10 to book the Twickenham clash with the Tigers.

Not knowing much about Harry Ellis puts me on edge Justin Marshall

Marshall says he is equally relishing Sunday's challenge against England scrum-half Harry Ellis.

"I don't know what to expect because I've never played against him, funnily enough," Marshall said.

"Every time I played against them with Leeds last year they put their B team out and still managed to beat us!

"You can often be more motivated when you don't know what to expect from an opponent, so not knowing much about Harry Ellis puts me on edge.

"I'm more aware I'll have to be on my game against somebody like him."

While the prospect of a final at Twickenham is exciting enough, Marshall credits the Anglo-Welsh competition as providing a turning point in the Osprey's season.

Marshall was one of six try-scorers in a 49-19 win over Gloucester in their first EDF pool game at the end of September, as the Ospreys threw off their shackles.

The Welsh region had come into the match on the back of a 43-7 hammering away to Ulster in the Magners League.

"We got away to a poor start in the Magners and the EDF was the first opportunity we had to go out and play a different style," Marshall added.

"We ultimately changed everything that we'd done pre-season and decided to play the game a different way.

"It proved to be good against Gloucester and has served us in going forward, so it was a big turning point for us and an important game.

"We had to do something as things were getting pretty desperate, and I think the coaches had recognised that before the Ulster game had even finished."

The Welsh rugby rumour mill had whispered that Marshall had been at odds with Ospreys coach Lyn Jones, but the Kiwi backs their working relationship.

"We collectively sat around at the start of the next week and decided to change what we were doing and play to our strengths a bit more," Marshall said.

"I've always tried to have my say and, to be fair, Lyn has always been really receptive with that.

"He's a coach who leads from the front and he has opinions and ideas, and they are always at the forefront of what we're doing.

"Whether he listens to every player I'm not sure, but we have one-on-one conversations and he takes on board what I say.

"Not everything that I've got to offer is the right way, but sometimes it is and we've got a really good working relationship."