MIKE Watkinson is set to lead Lancashire's bid for their first hat-trick of Championship wins in two years against Sussex at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Watkinson has not played in the Championship for a month because of his arm injury, with Mike Atherton and Neil Fairbrother captaining the side for the victories over Worcestershire and Middlesex.

But he came through the last two limited over matches, in the Sunday League against Middlesex followed by last Wednesday's shock NatWest Trophy defeat by Sussex at Hove, and is hopeful of playing in the rematch with Sussex tomorrow.

But Watkinson insists that revenge will not be on Lancashire's mind.

"All we are thinking about is trying to build on our recent improvement in the Championship," he said today.

The wins at Worcester and Uxbridge have taken Lancashire away from the bottom of the table and a third successive triumph could even take them into the top half. Lancashire's last Championship hat-trick came in 1995 when Wasim Akram led them to victories at Somerset and Leicestershire while Watkinson returned from Test duty against West Indies to play in the win against Sussex at Lytham.

And despite their NatWest victory, Sussex have been in terrible Championship form with crushing defeats by Glamorgan and Worcestershire in their last two matches.

Lancashire hope to be approaching full-strength tomorrow in all departments except pace bowling, where Wasim and Glen Chapple are definitely out.

Fairbrother is expected to pass a fitness test on his thigh strain, although Andrew Flintoff is standing by.

And Watkinson is likely to team up with Gary Yates which would mean no place for Gary Keedy in the spin attack.

Lancashire (probable): Atherton, Gallian, Crawley, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Watkinson, Austin, Hegg, Yates, Martin, Shadford.

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