LANCASHIRE could ask Ryan Driver to fill the huge boots of Andy Flintoff as they aim to end a run of four one-day defeats at Derby tomorrow.

Flintoff is unavailable for the Norwich Union National League game against Derbyshire because he has rejoined the England squad ahead of their NatWest triangular series against India and Sri Lanka.

And Driver, whose only first team appearance this season came against Durham University, has been called into the squad.

The 23-year-old Cornishman joined Lancashire from Worcestershire as an opening batsman last summer, but it is his improving medium pace bowling which has put him in contention.

"Putting him in the middle order would give us an extra bowling option," explained manager Mike Watkinson yesterday.

Watkinson hopes that Warren Hegg will be fit to return as captain and wicket keeper after he missed Wednesday's C&G Trophy defeat at Essex with a ricked neck.

Hegg wouldn't have been able to play yesterday but he is desperate to lead from the front with Lancashire needing a win to revive their fading promotion chances.

They have already thrashed Derbyshire in the third round of the C&G Trophy at Old Trafford this season but Dominic Cork's team are a different proposition on their home ground, which has never been a happy hunting ground for Lancashire.

The Peakites are shock leaders of the Second Division of the Championship with five wins out of their first six matches, and Cork and Kevin Dean have more wickets than any other new ball attack in the country.

Lancashire (from): Chilton, Swann, Chapple, Law, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Driver, Hegg, Schofield, Martin, Hogg, Wood.