OLD TRAFFORD old boys Jason Gallian and Steve Elworthy returned today, each with a point to prove.

Gallian has still to win a game against Lancashire in his five years as Nottinghamshire captain, while Elworthy's single season with the club in 1996 turned into a nightmare after he was surprisingly left out of the Benson and Hedges Cup final.

But newly-promoted Notts arrived at Old Trafford as the early-season Championship pacesetters after winning their first game back in the First Division against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge on Monday.

Elworthy, now 38, has gone on to represent South Africa in three Tests and 39 one-day internationals since his bitter departure from Lancashire.

Notts have signed him to join New Zealand star Chris Cairns as their second overseas player until Aussie leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has completed his international commitments in the West Indies.

Cairns was not fit to bowl in the Warwicks game, when Notts relied on Elworthy, Paul Franks and another South African, left-arm paceman Greg Smith, to take the wickets.

The Trent Bridge side fancy their chances of making an impact in the First Division this season, with talented youngsters such as Usman Afzaal, Charlie Shreck, England under-19s captain Bilal Shafayat and Chris Read - who is tipped to take over from Alec Stewart as England's one-day wicket keeper.

Lancashire, who picked up 12 points from their opening draw against Surrey at the Oval, recalled Peter Martin in place of Kyle Hogg.

Martin was a late withdrawal from the Surrey game because of a family bereavement, but declared himself available to link up with Glen Chapple, James Anderson and Andy Flintoff in the Lancashire attack.

The game also marked an Old Trafford Championship debut for Lancashire's winter signings Mal Loye and Iain Sutcliffe, who both came into the game full of confidence after their performances at the Oval.