GLEN Chapple faced a crucial fitness test at Old Trafford today as Lancashire finalised plans for tomorrow's Roses battle.

"It's a 50-50 for Glen," said manager Mike Watkinson.

"Obviously we want him to play, but we also have to be careful about bringing him back too quickly."

Chapple sustained a side strain during the recent Norwich Union League game at Northampton and went off the field immediately in the middle of an over.

"It was the sensible thing to do," said Watkinson.

"If he had carried on he might have caused further damage and had been out for four or six weeks.

"Now it's only a fortnight and there's hope he might play."

Chapple has only missed one competitive match, the Norwich Union League clash against Derbyshire at Blackpool -- and Lancashire managed to squeeze a one wicket win out of that.

They desperately need his experience at Headingley for the bottom two games where a Red Rose victory would push Lancashire up a tightly packed first division and leave Yorkshire hot favourites for the drop.

Watkinson pointed out: "Hampshire are in third place at the moment, but we would be in touching distance of them if we won at Headingley -- and still have a game in hand.

"It's that tight."

Andy Flintoff has been pulled out by England to keep him fresh for the Lord's Test against India next Thursday, but Yorkshire might be allowed to use Darren Gough, Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard.