LANCASHIRE hope that Peter Martin will be fit to return for tomorrow's C&G Trophy quarter final against Middlesex at Old Trafford.

But Andrew Flintoff's shoulder injury is still preventing him from bowling, meaning he will again play as a specialist batsman.

Martin missed Sunday's National League win against Notts with the buttock muscle injury which limited him to a single over in the Championship game against Leicestershire at Liverpool.

He will have a fitness test in the morning but manager Mike Watkinson said: "We think he'll be ok."

With James Anderson back from another successful Test appearance, that will give Lancashire a strong pace attack, even without Flintoff, although it does affect the balance of the side. That means they will rely on Carl Hooper's off spin as their fifth bowler with Mark Chilton as back-up.

According to Watkinson, Flintoff is still making "steady progress" as he recovers from the compressed nerve in his right shoulder, which has stopped him bowling for almost a month.

"He is slowly getting the arm over now, but bowling a full 10-over spell is not on at the moment," the manager added.

Flintoff now has less than a week before the start of England's hectic one-day schedule, with a NatWest Challenge match against Pakistan at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

He originally sustained the injury against tomorrow's opponents, Middlesex, in a Championship match at Lord's early last month.

Lancashire dominated that game before they were forced to settle for a draw by the weather, and they are strong favourites to reach the semi finals, especially with home advantage.

But Middlesex have some handy players in opener and captain Andrew Strauss, classy Irish left-hander Ed Joyce, and Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq - who will have something to prove to his national selectors after being left out of their squad to face England following his poor World Cup performances.

Lancs (probable): Sutcliffe, Chilton, Loye, Law, Hooper, Flintoff, Chapple, Hegg, Martin, Anderson, Sajid Mahmood.

Meanwhile, Lancashire Lightning's first home game in the Twenty20 Cup competition starts on June 19 when they take on the old enemy, Yorkshire Phoenix, at Old Trafford.

Tickets are already selling well and manager Watkinson is looking forward to the showdown.

"One thing is for certain, it will be different," he said.

"We've played reduced overs matches due to rain loads of times and they've always been exciting.

"But to intentionally play a 20-over innings will give the lads a chance to improvise and try new things."