LANCASHIRE went into their latest floodlit match against Somerset at Old Trafford tonight with their National League survival hopes alive -- but only just.

Gloucestershire's win at Sussex last night -- which has virtually clinched a unique one-day treble for Mark Alleyne's team -- means that Lightning still have a mathematical chance of clambering out of the bottom three.

But with Kent shocking Yorkshire at Canterbury yesterday, they will now have to win their remaining two games against Somerset then Sussex on Sunday week, by massive margins, to improve on their low run rate.

Lancashire could go above Sussex and Leicestershire and pull level with Kent, by taking eight points from their last two games.

But before today's game Lightning had a run rate of minus 7.4 while Kent's is 4.13.

Still, where there's hope, there's life, and Lancashire were looking to bounce back from Monday's disappointment at Bristol.

Warren Hegg was set to take over as captain after John Crawley was unable to field on Monday with stomach cramps -- although fears that Crawley was suffering from appendicitis have receded, and he may even be fit to play in the Championship game against Somerset which starts on Friday.

Somerset were without their England heroes Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick for today's game.

Like Lancashire's Andy Flintoff, they have been ordered to rest for the remainder of the season by England coach Duncan Fletcher because they have been selected for all three winter tours.

Mike Atherton was available for Lancashire because he has only been picked for the Tests in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and not the one-day trip to Kenya next month.

Joe Scuderi was set to replace Flintoff, although with rain and strong winds forecast, Lancashire were facing a battle with the weather as well as Somerset.