HARBHAJAN Singh is due to link up with Lancashire this weekend after missing the first six weeks of the season, resting a finger injury.

But the Turbanator, as the Indian spinner is known, may not be immediately able to play - and that would allow his in-form replacement Carl Hooper to extend his stay.

Lancashire will have to look carefully at Harbhajan's fitness, both his finger and general condition, before making a decision.

Meanwhile, Hooper was set to continue his Old Trafford stint today as Lancashire faced Middlesex in the quarter-final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

The 36 year-old West Indian has been an instant hit, making telling contributions in the championship wins over Kent and Leicester, which have hauled Lancashire into second place.

He has also being highly influential in their one-day campaign.

It was Hooper's unbeaten 61 which helped them to beat Durham in the fourth round of the C&G Trophy and last Sunday he produced a powerhouse show with Andy Flintoff in the National League victory over Notts.

Hooper and Flintoff were likely to be playing together for the last time today with the England star, still unable to bowl because of a shoulder injury, due to join England's one-day squad at the weekend.

Lancashire had England's new hero Jimmy Anderson was back in action for his county, but he too will be England's again after this game.

Meanwhile, New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has agreed a five-week deal with Nottinghamshire.

Vettori leaves for Trent Bridge in the last week of June and returns to New Zealand in the first week of August.

He will temporarily take the place of spinner Stuart McGill, who is touring with Australia.

"I'm excited about my first taste of county cricket and look forward to a change of environment," Vettori said.