Patrick Tuipulotu is hoping to hit the ground running as he comes back from a hand injury.

With the ink barely dry on a new four-year contract, Patrick Tuipulotu has switched focus to improving his poor form and gaining further help from the Blues' mental skills coach.

Tuipulotu has joined fellow All Blacks Julian Savea, Brodie Retallick, Dane Coles and Aaron Smith in committing through to 2019.

"It's been a long process but I always wanted to stay," Tuipulotu said.

CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Patrick Tuipulotu said he is already looking ahead to next year's Lions tour and the next Rugby World Cup.

"I wasn't looking overseas or anything like that. I want to be back in the frame for the June tests and long term I want to be an All Black for a while."

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PHIL WALTER/GETTY IMAGES Patrick Tuipulotu will play his rugby in New Zealand until at least 2019.

Still only 23, Tuipulotu is a beast of a man. His imposing 1.98m and 120kg frame has made a major impact since bursting onto the scene with the Blues in 2014 and going on to play seven tests.

He missed last year's World Cup with double hip surgery and is aiming to return from a fractured hand against the Rebels next week but a splint will remain in place to for the rest of the year to assist the healing process. His return will also provide a boost at the right time after the Blues lost Rene Ranger to a season-ending knee injury.

New Zealand's third choice lock behind Retallick and Sam Whitelock, Tuipulotu is unhappy with his form in 2016 and the stats reflect his frustrations. In five games this season he has made 35 carries for just 58 metres and only taken eight lineouts.

There have been solid patches, too, but Tuipulotu was dropped to the bench in an effort to evoke a reaction in the Blues round three loss to the Hurricanes.

"Quite poor to be honest," Tuipulotu said when asked to assess his form. "I know I can play a lot better. I started off well but then went a bit downhill. I'm slowly getting there but the injuries haven't helped.

"I know I'm fit enough to play. I lost all the weight I put on while I was injured so I put it down to something mental off the field."

Tuipulotu has begun working regularly with Blues mental skills coach Kylie Wilson to get the best from his abilities. Wilson has advised him to use the now common tactic adopted by the All Blacks of switching from a red head [distracted] to blue head [focused] before and during matches.

"We have a few catch ups here and there every week which have been beneficial," Tuipulotu of his interactions with Wilson.

"If I see myself getting ready for a slump or find myself chasing a game it's how I get out of that. It's focusing on my core role and I think I went off that in a couple of games recently. Hopefully when I come back I'll put that right."

Putting pen to paper on a new four year contact may have also been a distraction but Tuipulotu is confident he will lift in the coming weeks.

"It wasn't an excuse for me performing how I was before but it was definitely a weight off my shoulders. I know where I'll be for the next couple of years and I'll put a lot of work back into getting this team back to where they should be."

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