GRAEME Hick hopes to force his way back into Test match contention by making a major impact in England's forthcoming one-day internationals against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

"I've got a few years left in me yet and I'd like to spend a few of them playing Test cricket," said the 33-year-old who jets out to South Africa tonight along with County team-mate Vikram Solanki.

After playing in the World Cup last year Hick made a return to the Test match arena when he was selected for the third Test against New Zealand.

It was his eighth Test comeback in an international career going back to 1991 -- and he's determined it won't be his last.

"It's now the start of a new tour of one-day games for me and they are great fun to play in. It's an opportunity for me to start getting myself back to where I'm trying to get to which is obviously a Test place."

Hick and Solanki are among a group of six England one-day players who are leaving for South Africa ahead of schedule and will be available for selection for the next tour match against a South African Invitation Xl in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

The fifth Test follows at Centurion Park five days later.

The earlier than expected departure, however, has not affected Hick's preparations for the one-day internationals which can't come soon enough for the New Road master batsman.

He said: "I'm looking forward to getting back out on the field and hopefully play some good cricket. No international games are easy and there is quite a bit of travelling in among the fixtures. There is a lot of cricket and not a lot of rest. That's where your fitness has to hold out.

"I've been mainly doing gym work on the treadmills. The first couple of weeks doing it are the hardest, but once I feel I'm getting fit I enjoy it. I don't find it hard to get myself up to the gym."

Hick, however, has firm ideas about the forthcoming one-day matches which begin on January 23 with a clash against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

"Obviously, the way I want to see it to go is for us to win the games in South Africa and Zimbabwe and for me to have a good series.

"If I have any point to prove it's to myself. There's still things I'd like to achieve in the game and I still feel I've got a little bit of time left to do that."