Northamptonshire LVCC preview.

Lancs set for top-of-the-table clash.

Simon Katich is the in-form player
for Lancashire.

Lancashire's promotion bid faces its toughest challenge so far tomorrow, as they take on Northants at Emirates Old Trafford. The Red Rose county have named a 13-man squad for this fixture which sees the inclusion of Tom Smith for the first time this season.

Lancashire 13-man squad: Chapple, Agathangelou, Croft, Cross, Hogg, Katich, Kerrigan, Parry, Prince, Procter, Reece, Smith, White.

Once again Karl Brown misses out to accommodate Luis Reece, but Brown is set to captain the second XI's as they face Yorkshire this week.

It is fair to say that the events of last week at Essex will have given Lancashire confidence, but the importance of this fixture will have given them a reality check.

Lancashire will take confidence from the form that a number of the players are currently enjoying - particularly Simon Katich, who hit 122 versus Essex, in Lancashire's innings and 110-run victory.

Ashwell Prince will also be a key figure after he hit 98 not out versus Scotland in the YB40 campaign. With the ball, the skipper Glen Chapple will be as vital as ever, alongside his partner Kyle Hogg, who helped him to bowl Essex out for 20 last Friday.

Northants have had an amazing start to the four-day competition, currently presiding in first place, 33 points ahead of Lancashire. Like Lancashire they are unbeaten in division two, but they have won one more match and attained more bonus points in batting and bowling.

Former Lancashire player, Steven Crook, has been in fine form this season, having taken 29 wickets and hitting three fifties, and he sees this encounter as a 'cup-final' for Northants.

Lancashire will also be fearful of Trent Copeland, who has taken 36 wicket at an average of 16.25. They will need to be careful of Northamptonshire's dense batting line-up, which has no real weakness in the context of the second division.

Prediction: Draw: This will be a tough match for both sides. Both are eager to win and are therefore likely to ensure that they do not lose. Old Trafford generally offers a bit for batsmen and bowlers but the side batting first should enjoy the share of the game. It is likely that both teams will mount a respectable first innings total, but enough time will be taken out of the match that neither side loses.