LANCASHIRE will have a delicate decision to make this week if they are banned from signing Carl Hooper as a short-term replacement for Harbhajan Singh.

The Hooper issue will be thrashed out by representatives of the 18 counties at the First Class Forum tomorrow and, if the vote goes against Lancashire, they face a dilemma - Hooper or Harbhajan for the rest of the season?

The West Indian is over here and available. The Turbanator, resting his injured finger, has yet to appear and will not be ready to play until mid-June at the earliest. But he is the world-class match-winning bowler that Lancashire feel they need. Who to go for?

And then there is Gary Keedy. Almost the forgotten man this season, he made a dramatic reappearance at Lord's yesterday with a superb 6-68 performance. The 28-year-old left-arm spinner bowled Middlesex out for 304, forcing them to follow on 261 behind, polishing off the innings with 3-2 from nine balls.

Keedy made his intentions crystal clear, marking his first game of the season after a series of injuries with an intelligent, probing display crowned by a spell of 3-2 from nine balls to polish Middlesex off.

Just what he needed after missing the opening month with knuckle, finger and back problems. Just what Lancashire needed as they strived to open their championship account after the weather affected draws with Surrey and Notts.

Again they were delayed, with rain wrecking the afternoon session, and they will have to work hard to succeed today with Middlesex fighting back in their second innings. But Keedy has presented them with a real chance -- particularly if Andy Flintoff recovers from the stomach bug which kept him off the field after sending down four overs yesterday.