Murray Goodwin wants to complete a decade of service with Sussex.

The 33-year-old, who is enjoying a sixth successful season with the county, hopes to have his contract extended when his current deal expires at the end of next year.

Goodwin has scored nearly 8,000 first-class runs for the county and it would be a surprise, not to mention crass stupidity on Sussex's part, if the former Zimbabwe Test star was not allowed to go on until he had completed ten years at Hove.

You can be sure if Sussex did not want him there would be no shortage of other counties willing to hire him.

Speaking before today's vital top-of-the-table Championship clash against Lancashire at Hove, Goodwin said: "My contract expires at the end of next season and hopefully I can stay with Sussex beyond that.

"I think I've got another four good seasons left in me and, who knows, I could be awarded a benefit in that time."

Mushtaq Ahmed has unquestionably been Sussex's best overseas signing in recent years, but the durable Goodwin is not far behind and has won many admirers at Hove, not least for the part he played in the county's Championship triumph in 2003.

The moment he swatted a short ball from Phil DeFreitas to the boundary to clinch glory in the final match against Leicestershire will be the enduring image of an unforgettable summer which he embellished by going on to score 335 not out, the highest innings in Sussex history.

Goodwin cherishes that memory, and many others, of his time at Hove but he could never be accused of resting on his laurels.

In fact, his appetite for heavy run scoring is clearly not sated.

Already this season he has lodged two double hundreds and two more centuries and is creeping up the list of Sussex's all-time greats.

And it is not just beyond the boundary where Goodwin has his admirers. His team-mates, particularly youngsters like Mike Yardy and Carl Hopkinson, enjoy batting with him, he brings a wealth of experience to the dressing room and his mental strength is much admired. There are few more focused cricketers in the country than Goodwin.

But, like all good batsmen, he is never satisfied. Last season he achieved his ambition of finishing with a first-class average above 50. This year he has raised the bar still further and wants to end the summer averaging in excess 60.

The 156 he plundered off Middlesex's joke bowlers at Southgate a fortnight ago may have been the least satisfying of his 43 career hundreds but it ensured his average crept above 60, despite a couple of low scores in last week's game against Warwickshire. That is where he intends it to remain.

He said: "I'm pleased with my form but even this season I am still learning about the game and what works for me. Specifically, I have learnt to value every single innings.

"That can be tough mentally because of the sheer volume of cricket we play but I am determined to keep working hard. I try not to get over-confident or over-complicate things because this game has a habit of biting you when you least expect it.

"I have certain goals which I want to achieve for both the team and myself. I want to average above 60 this season, there is a lot of personal pride involved in doing that."

Goodwin will play a key role in a crucial month for Sussex which will make or break their Championship challenge and which culminates in their first appearance in a Lord's final for 13 years when they play Lancashire in the C&G Trophy final.

It can be hard work at this time of the season as the effects of a long summer start to take their toll on tired bodies and tired minds.

The key to countering that, according to Goodwin, is supreme mental strength.

He said: "A county season is a long road and there are a lot of factors such as the travelling and being away from your family which can affect you,.

"But the guys who are mentally tough always succeed and become more consistent.

"Hopefully that is an area we can improve in the next few games as a team and I include myself in that.

"There is so much to play for and it would be horrible if the season started tailing off now but I don't think it will. My message to the others would be to value every run - whether you are batting or in the field - and keep it simple. If we do that we won't go far wrong."