IAN Austin today set himself the target of playing in Lancashire's crucial CGU National League games against Gloucestershire and Yorkshire next week.

Austin was ruled out of the Championship match against Derbyshire which started today by a knee injury he picked up in the win against Hampshire in Southampton.

But he is determined to return to boost Lancashire's title hopes in 45-over games against Gloucestershire at Old Trafford next Tuesday and Yorkshire in a floodlit game at Headingley two days later.

"It's the other knee from the one which caused me trouble last season, but it seems to me that it could be a similar problem," Austin said today.

"It happened at Hampshire when I had to pull up. I felt it a little bit in the NatWest game against Yorkshire but not enough to stop me bowling.

"I've just got to rest it and keep icing it and I hope I can be ready for the big games next week."

Lancashire's second team suffered a complete washout on the first day of the championship match against Worcestershire at New Road.

Lancashire got off to a bad start at Derby losing John Crawley and Neil Fairbrother with the score at just 17. Andrew Flintoff made a quick 31 to leave Lancashire at 54-3.

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