Lote Tuqiri wants to stay with Leicester Tigers until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old Australian winger is in line to make his Tigers debut against South Africa on Friday night after agreeing a short-term contract at Welford Road.

Tigers coach Richard Cockerill refused to be drawn on the length of Tuqiri's contract, but it is thought to expire before the end of the season.

Moreover, the Australian press have linked Tuqiri with a move to Aussie League side Wests Tigers next year.

However, Tuqiri insisted: "I have had no contact with Wests Tigers. This is pure speculation in the Australian press.

"I haven't signed or done anything with Wests Tigers and I am certainly looking forward to being here until May."

Tuqiri sees the move to Tigers as a fresh start after being sacked by Australia in July, halfway through a lucrative four-year contract.

Neither the Australian Rugby Union nor Tuqiri's Super 14 team, the NSW Waratahs, commented on the reasons behind his expulsion.

However, Tuqiri started legal proceedings against the ban and said yesterday that the matter had been settled out of court.

"I'm not allowed to discuss the reasons for my suspension but it has been sorted out now."

Tuqiri has had a colourful record since switching to union from league club Brisbane in 2003.

It has been reported that he was fined $500 and given a two-match ban following an incident in Brisbane in 2005, and was sent home from a Wallabies training camp in 2007 for failing a fitness test.

In the same year, he was banned for two matches and fined $20,000 for failing to attend a team medical and registering an alcohol reading at a team breath test.

But he dismissed his "bad-boy" reputation by insisting: "I've been called it but I don't know about that.

"Whatever did happen is in the past now. I have a high profile back in Australia and probably could have been smarter, but you just move on.

"I certainly don't have any regrets, and these things happen for a reason, but I'm playing for Tigers now and want to help the club go well in the Guinness Premiership and Europe."

Tuqiri said Tigers' international reputation convinced him he was making the right move with other clubs also in the running for the player, who scored a try against England in the 2003 World Cup final, one of 30 in 67 Tests,

He said: "Tigers have a really good name internationally as a club and been successful with a good following.

"Leicester have had many achievements in the past and I spoke to a few people with connections here.

"I contacted (former coach) Bob Dwyer who gave me some facts on the place."

Tuqiri said the draw of playing in Europe was another factor in his decision to join.

"Playing in Europe is definitely something I'm looking forward to as I enjoy being on the bigger stage.

"I was at the Guinness Premiership game with Northampton Saints last weekend and it was good. There will be 20-odd thousand in the stadium every other week and I live for the big occasion.

"I walked around the stadium when the fans didn't know too much. I got a few funny looks, an 'is it or isn't it'. Some people who did recognise me wished me good luck."

Tigers have a double header this weekend, with a clash at Leeds in the LV Cup on Sunday after Friday's match with the Springboks.

"I put my hand up to play in one of the games to get my match fitness up.

"I've not played for a while and I've been trying to keep myself fit. I think I've done that but we'll see when I get on to the pitch.

"With my first game back being against the world champions, it's straight back into the deep end."