Justin Marshall wants as much Ospreys game time as possible

Justin Marshall has rubbished reports suggesting a return to his native New Zealand collapsed over money.

The All Black told the BBC's Scrum V that the idea to play for Canterbury in the NPC was so he and team-mate Mike Phillips would get some game time.

The pair compete for the number nine shirt, but with Phillips out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury the move was ruled out.

"That's all it was, it never progressed further than that," he said.

"With Mike and I both at the Ospreys, Lyn (Jones) and Mike Cuddy (managing director) and I sat down and had a bit of a discussion as to how we could both get a good amount of game time to be firing for the EDF and Heineken Cup next year.

"We discussed in brief me returning to Canterbury for the NPC and then being back in time for the EDF and Heineken Cup, both of us having plenty of game time and plenty to play for, for the season.

"It was never guaranteed of going forward, it was just a matter of how can you get both of these players in magnificent nick and competing against each other to play in the EDF and Heineken Cup"

Marshall, an 81-Test veteran, joined the Ospreys from Leeds Tykes in April 2006 on a two-year deal.

He took up an option of a third year in 2007, extending his deal to the end of the 2008/9 season, and is believed to earn close to �200,000 per season.

Wales scrum-half Phillips competes for the starting nine shirt with Marshall at the Liberty Stadium, while the Ospreys also have rookies Rhys Webb and Rhodri Wells on their books.