AUSTRALIAN batsman Simon Katich is wanted by two other English counties for the 2007 summer - but has set his heart on a return to play for Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Katich spoke to Hampshire manager Paul Terry recently and was told to expect a decision on whether he will be asked back by the end of this month.

Hampshire's 2003 Player of the Year has received positive vibes from at least two other counties - believed to be Yorkshire and Northants - but wants to return to West End.

"I have missed playing for Hampshire this year but I have followed every game on the Internet," Katich said. "A player's agent told me there are two other counties interested in signing me next year but I want to play for Hampshire.

"Shane Warne and I work well together - we finished second on the County Championship ladder last year (2005) and Shane has indicated that he wants me to go back.

"I have only played two four-day matches for New South Wales in the past two years but I have got a good first-class record and I love playing for Hampshire."

If Katich is chosen by Hampshire, the chances are he would be available for most of the 2007 season.

If they plumped for Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson, though, they would not get the same level of commitment.

Watson was a smash hit during both his spells at the Rose Bowl in 2004 and 2005.

But his schedule is likely to be crowded by Test and ODI series.

Watson, like Katich, has been included in Australia's squad for the Champions Trophy which starts next week.

If he proves his fitness, he is expected to be included in both the Ashes and World Cup squads.

Therefore, he has indicated his preference would be for a shorter stint next summer.

Watson said yesterday: "My priority at the moment is to get into the Australian team and perform consistently well with both bat and ball at the Champions Trophy, the Ashes and the World Cup.

"Playing county cricket for Hampshire next year is not off my radar but it's not something that is my immediate focus.

"If I go back to the Rose Bowl at all it is more likely to be for part of the season instead of the whole season.

"I have had a lot of injuries in the past few years so I have to be careful."

If Hampshire don't go for either Katich or Watson, they might pick Michael Clarke as their second overseas player in 2007. The batsman played most of the 2004 season for Hampshire, with moderate success.

But he was fast-tracked into his country's Test squad shortly after and, like Katich, was a regular in last year's Ashes.

Speaking this week, Clarke said: "I don't want to make any comment about playing for Hampshire next season at this stage. I don't want to rule anything in or anything out."