SEAN Long insists he will not go back on his decision to quit international rugby league despite rediscovering some of the best form of his career.

The St Helens scrum-half announced his retirement from Test match rugby after controversially returning home early from the 2006 Tri Nations Series in Australia but he has been in magnificent touch in Super League this season.

His 27-point performance against Wigan in Cardiff on Sunday, which included a sparkling hat-trick of tries, was the latest in a series of high-class displays for his club.

Rob Burrow, of Leeds, who was understudy to Long on the tour in 2006, is sure to be England coach Tony Smith's first choice for next month's international against France and the World Cup in Australia at the end of the season.

But there is no obvious back-up, with Wakefield's Danny Brough - Super League's other form half-back - due to captain surprise qualifiers Scotland in the World Cup.

Long, who quit the last tour for personal reasons just a week after producing a man-of-the-match performance in Great Britain's 23-12 win over Australia, is back to his best after a stop-start season in 2007 but has no intention of making himself available for England.

"I want to play as long as I can for St Helens," he said. "There are that many games in a season and I am 31. I don't think it's wise for me to go on tour.

"I'm enjoying it. I'm probably not as fast as I used to be but the gaffer has given me a lot of responsibility to guide the team around the field and I'm enjoying that. When I stop enjoying it, it will be time to pack it in."

St Helens captain Keiron Cunningham, who has played alongside Long for the last 11 years, has unearthed an explanation for his team-mate's return to form.

"Sean had a testimonial hanging over his head last year and I don't care what anyone says, I've been through one and it's difficult to play when you've got that looming," he said. "You've got to organise things.

"So last year was a bit scratchy for him but everyone knew he would come and bounce back this year and be the Sean Long of old.

"He's scoring plenty of tries and creating stuff. We've played together forever and we know each other inside out. I enjoy playing with him as do the rest of the players."

St Helens, who maintained third place in Super League following their 10-try rout of Wigan, turn their attention to their defence of the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Saturday, when they entertain Warrington in a televised fifth-round tie.

Saints are out to complete a hat-trick of Cup final triumphs and, after struggling with injuries in the first half of the season, the signs are starting to look ominous for their rivals.

Long, who two years ago became the first player to win the Lance Todd Trophy as Cup final man of the match three times, puts his side's improved form down to the return of forwards Cunningham, Jason Cayless and James Graham.

"We struggled early on in the season with injuries and any half-back will tell you, if your pack isn't going forward, it's pretty hard for us," said Long.

"But we've got some players back and they're laying a platform for us. We're still missing quality players but it is nice to get the big fellas back on the field."

St Helens have a doubt over full-back Paul Wellens, who picked up an ankle knock against Wigan, while Warrington expect to have former Saints loose forward Vinnie Anderson back after missing last Saturday's 36-34 win over Huddersfield with a shoulder injury.