South African Francois Du Plessis has revealed that he wants to return to Lancashire next season on the Kolpak ruling.

The 23 year-old all-rounder says he will return to play for his South African province, the Nashua Titans, as an overseas player this winter.

And that would pave the way for him to head back to Old Trafford on a longer contract, and possibly even qualify to play international cricket for England.

He has made a big impression in his short time with the Red Rose county, excelling with both bat and ball in Twenty20 cricket. He will be expecting to continue his 20-over form when Lancashire face Middlesex in the Twenty20 Cup quarter finals tomorrow.

He has hit one 50 in ten North Division group games, while taking nine wickets with his occasional, but effective, leg-spin.

He said: "I would love to come back to Lancashire, it has been very good for me this season."

He is waiting to see whether the ECB can introduce a ruling which would decrease the number of Kolpaks in county cricket before making any definite decision.

"I will be going back to South Africa in the winter to play as an overseas player, which is not as big as it would be over here in England," he continued.

"There are not as many guys coming over from international borders to play cricket in South Africa, it's just more guys from South Africa playing in our structure.

"I will be going over next season as one of the overseas players with Martin van Jaarsveld in our side. If I can keep on playing as an overseas player in South Africa and a Kolpak in England, then happy days."

If Lancashire do offer a deal, it would mean he would have to forgo his immediate ambitions to play for South Africa.

But should any deal be long enough, he could complete the four year qualification period to play international cricket for England.

"It would stop me playing for South Africa in that period of time," he continued. "It is just a case of working out how far you are away from the national side.

"If you are contracted to play cricket with an English county, South African cricket don't generally look at you. But anything can happen."

Of tomorrow's clash at the Oval, Du Plessis added: "When you get this far, you obviously don't want to fall down at the quarter-finals."