Steve Finnan is ready to battle for his Liverpool place as manager Rafa Benitez seeks to add to his squad before season kickoff.

Benitez has spent heavily this summer, shelling out a club-record fee for striker Fernando Torres and also bringing in Ajax's Ryan Babel and West Ham's Yossi Benayoun.

That has given the squad a fresh impetus and Finnan, who is likely to compete with Alvaro Arbeloa for the right-back slot now the Spaniard has settled in properly having joined from Deportivo in the January transfer window, believes that can only be good for the club.

"I have been here four years now and during that time a lot of players have come and gone," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"It is a squad game now and competition for places is never a problem but I am confident I can continue to hold down a regular place in the side."

The 31-year-old, currently with Liverpool in Hong Kong to compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy, has agreed a new three-year deal which he hopes will see him end his career on Merseyside.

"I cannot wait to sign the contract once we are back home," said the Republic of Ireland international.

"I am in my thirties now and there's no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this is where I want to play for the rest of my career.

"I was never worried about not being offered a new deal to be honest. We initially spoke about it towards the end of last season, but there's been a lot going on at the club in recent months and it was never in doubt.

"The manager assured me that I was in his plans and once talks resumed everything was tied up really quickly."