Monye: Ready for Amlin Challenge Cup final

Harlequins tackle Stade Francais, who Racing have usurped as rugby's big players in Paris, in the Amlin Challenge Cup final at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Victory would secure Harlequins their first piece of silverware since 2004 and a route back into the Heineken Cup, after they finished a disappointing seventh in the Aviva Premiership.

"I was seriously tempted to go to France but this is my ninth season at Harlequins and I felt my work here was not done. I stayed for moments like tomorrow," Monye said.

"I have only won one major trophy and I didn't want to leave and look back in five years and think I'd had nine good years but I hadn't achieved that much.

"I knew the potential of the boys, I knew where this team was going and I wanted to be around. This is a real opportunity for us to do something special and it shows I made the right decision.

"Everyone is so excited. It doesn't feel like a long season when you have got a final to look forward to.

"It is a massive opportunity for us to get into the Heineken Cup for next season and, most importantly, to get a trophy in the cabinet."

On a personal level, Monye knows that a European final is the perfect stage on which to enhance his bid for an England recall in World Cup year.

The 28-year-old won his last England cap against Scotland in March 2010 before a loss of form and injury saw him slip out of Martin Johnson's 32-man senior squad.

In his absence, Chris Ashton has established himself in the team with David Strettle playing the role of understudy during England's RBS 6 Nations title triumph.

But in the last few months Monye has begun to recapture the form that earned him two Lions Test caps on the 2009 tour of South Africa.

"I have been a little bit envious watching England and Chris Ashton in particular," said Monye.

"I'm genuinely glad for him. Now it's down to me to get back in the squad and challenge for a place

"For all the guys here who want to go to a World Cup this is a huge game to stand up and perform in.

"Going to Munster and winning in the semi-finals was huge and I thought I played well then - but this is bigger. It is a cup final.

"When you look at the number of internationals on the pitch the intensity will be akin to a Test match.

"I feel I am playing well at the moment. It is great to be part of a final and if I can capitalise on that and play well then hopefully I can ask some questions of the England coaches."

Monye feared he had suffered a broken wrist against Saracens two weekends ago but he has recovered from the blow and fly-half Nick Evans has shaken a knee problem to start.

England will be naming the Saxons' Churchill Cup squad next week and Johnson will then confirm his 50-man World Cup training squad on June 17.

Harlequins face a Stade Francais team in a very similar position. They too missed out on automatic Heineken Cup qualification and victory tomorrow night would rescue their season.

England duo Tom Palmer and James Haskell both start for Stade, who will be captained by Italian talisman Sergio Parisse.

"After a disappointing domestic season - we finished 11th in the French Top 14 Championship - there is still a chance to make a success of the campaign if we can defeat Quins," Palmer told the Evening Standard.