Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club will host its first County Championship fixture since the 2013 season as Lancashire take on Derbyshire this Sunday.
The last time the Red Rose came to Trafalgar Road they recorded a 122-run victory against Hampshire, but this will be the first time that Derbyshire have played against Lancashire at this ground for nearly 15 years.
Lancashire are back to winning ways in the four-day campaign after cruising to a 244-run win against Leicestershire at Grace Road, a triumph that leaves Ashley Giles's side in a strong position at the top of the second division.
A victory against a formidable Derbyshire side would represent a tremendous achievement for Lancashire, but with Hashim Amla to call upon, Lancashire's opponents will be out for revenge after the result in the reverse fixture.
Lancashire won their opening LV= County Championship match away at Derby by 250 runs and after being bowled out for 114 in their second innings, Derby will hope to prove their capabilities as a promotion rival for the Red Rose.
James Faulkner was present at Lancashire's Twenty20 defeat to Durham yesterday, but the Australian all-rounder is not due to play a part in this match due to the volume of cricket he has been playing with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
Derbyshire were held up in their latest Championship match by a determined last-wicket stand against Northamptonshire between Rob Keogh and the injured Alex Wakely, as Derby failed to claim the final wicket to secure victory at Wantage Road.
Key players:
Kyle Jarvis is the leading wicket-taker in the second division with 30 wickets at an average of 19.53 and he will be expected to play a vital role by leading Lancashire's attack. Last season, no such notion would have cropped into the minds of the Lancashire faithful, but Jarvis has been one of the most improved cricketers on the county circuit and his hard work is paying off for both him and Lancashire, who have invested a lot of time and effort to ensure the his talents are harnessed in the right way.
The Zimbabwean fast-bowler was overshadowed by Tom Bailey's nine-over spell of 5-12 against Leicestershire, but his first-innings figures of 5-69 rewarded Jarvis with his second five-wicket-haul of the season. His first came against Derbyshire in the reverse fixture and his figures of 5-13 on that occasion will carry an important psychological advantage, as Lancashire hope to do the double over their promotion rivals.
There is no doubt that Hashim Amla stands head and shoulders above the rest of the Derbyshire line-up and the South-African batsman will be hoping to cash in against a relatively inexperienced bowling attack. A Test record of 6,757 runs at an average of over 50 runs indicates the threat he poses to Lancashire in this game and the 32-year-old will also be pleased to see that Faulkner is unlikely to play, given that he would bring a much-needed boost in terms of experience to Lancashire's bowling options.
The South-African Test ace failed to deliver a performance worthy of his high standards against Northants, scoring 1 and 20 at Wantage Road, but Amla will be aiming to impress during his short stint with Derbyshire and since this is his final four-day match for Graeme Welch's side, there will be an added incentive to leave on a high.
Team news:
Lancashire are without Faulkner who was due to replace countryman Peter Siddle once he returned to international duties, but the amount of cricket the Australian has been playing means that the all-rounder is being rested for this match. Luis Reece was due to have surgery on his hand this week, but he will be absent for a number of weeks as he undergoes recovery. Tom Smith was name in the squad last week, but he is yet to fully overcome a back injury and so Steven Croft will continue to captain the side.
Lancashire 12-man squad: Steven Croft (c), Tom Bailey, Nathan Buck, Karl Brown, Jordan Clark, Alex Davies (w/k), Kyle Jarvis, Simon Kerrigan, Paul Horton, Arron Lilley, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince.
Billy Godleman returns to the team after serving a two-match ban for dangerously throwing the ball during Derbyshire's match against Gloucestershire. The left-handed opening batsman will also captain the squad in the absence of Wayne Madsen, who will be out for at least four weeks with a finger injury.
Derbyshire also welcome the return of Tony Palladino after missing the the last two four-day matches, but the visitors are without all-rounder Alex Hughes due to a thumb injury. Jonathan Clare also misses out through injury.
Derbyshire 13-man squad: Billy Godleman (c), Hashim Amla, Ben Cotton, Critchley, Scott Elstone, Mark Footitt, Harvey Hosein (w/k), Chesney Hughes, Tony Palladino, Ben Slater, Tom Taylor, Shiv Thakor, David Wainwright.
Match information:
Weather and conditions: A dry but overcast first day will offer plenty for the seamers and conditions will be better for batting on the second day with the weather becoming much more pleasant as the match progresses. Early-morning rain could see a delayed start tomorrow morning, but the rain should disappear before 11 o'clock. For a full weather forecast, click here.
Ground: Southport and Birkdale CC
Start time: 11.00am
Umpires: Rob Bailey, Nick Cook
Odds (SkyBet): Lancashire 1/2, Derbyshire 6/4
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