LANCASHIRE'S County Championship match against Sussex, which started today, is shaping up to be a crucial clash between two of the main title contenders.

The Red Rose side face a Sussex team who have shown some good early season form and are keen to prove last year's title success was no fluke.

The corresponding fixture last year was a heated affair, which the south coast side won with just 16 balls to spare.

Mushtaq Ahmed ended Lancashire's resistance with a spell of 5-19, but it was felt some decisions went against the visitors throughout the game.

And today's game promises to be another tense tussle.

Sussex skipper Chris Adams has already started to raise the stakes by saying: "Lancashire are very good at complaining be it about the pitch, weather - or lunch."

He also claims that last season's defeat still annoys Mike Watkinson and the squad.

But the Lancashire coach has refused to get into a war of words, preferring to leave the cricket to do the talking.

Captain Warren Hegg is focusing on his team head of the game and said: "Sussex are a well-drilled side but we are going down there to win and are full of confidence."