MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN has confirmed that he does not expect to be back with Lancashire next season.

The little Sri Lankan signs off for 2001 at Old Trafford today in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy tie against Sussex.

He is still hoping to return for the last Championship game of the season against Kent, and also the C&G final at Lord's, as his international commitments are over by September.

But Murali conceded: "I don't think I'll come next year. Sri Lanka are playing against England and I would not be able to play many matches for Lancashire."

Lancashire are now certain to target an overseas batsman.

Stuart Law, the Queensland captain who scored three centuries in as many days at Old Trafford three weeks ago, and is unhappy at Essex, is the most obvious choice, especially as his wife is from the North West.

Lancashire are understood to have made an initial approach, although they could still decide to go for an opener.

Murali, meanwhile, is hoping to be back at Old Trafford the following year. "I would like to come back and play for Lancashire, perhaps in 2003," he added, stressing that he had enjoyed his time with the club so much, he would not want to play for any other county.

He has been a hugely popular figure in the dressing room, as well as a massive success on the field.

So his Lancashire team-mates are keen to send him off in style, as well as stay on course for Lord's, by beating Sussex tomorrow.

Peter Martin and Glen Chapple passed fitness tests to return to the team against Sussex, with Mike Atherton and Graham Lloyd also back to boost the batting.

Lloyd, who was dropped from last week's Championship defeat at Kent after the most brief of first-team returns with one innings against Surrey, warmed up for the game with a brilliant unbeaten 148 for the seconds in their one-day victory against Notts yesterday.

Mark Chilton weighed in with a half century but was left out today, with Lancashire sticking with Chapple as Atherton's opening partner. Chapple also played for the seconds yesterday and picked up a couple of wickets to prove his recovery from the side strain which kept him out at Canterbury.

The match would be decided by a bowl-out if no result is possible either today or tomorrow.