SOURAV Ganguly returns as Lancashire aim for Roses revenge at Headingley tonight.

The Indian left hander took a break in Monday's National League defeat at Sussex as Lancashire aim to ensure his fitness for the NatWest Trophy semi final against Gloucestershire next Sunday.

But coach Bob Simpson expects Ganguly to be back for the floodlit game against Yorkshire, although he will not bowl because of the groin injury he picked up in the Championship match at Headingley 10 days ago.

That game ended in a draw but Lancashire were humbled by the old enemy in the previous National League meeting this season in front of a big crowd under the Old Trafford floodlights.

Yorkshire were hoping for a five figure gate at Headingley tonight although they were not helped by a bad weather forecast. Things are getting desperate for Lightning, who are four points adrift at the bottom of the table, after suffering their fifth defeat in nine matches at Hove on Monday.

Yorkshire have also been struggling but pulled eight points clear of Lancashire with a surprise win at the title challengers Somerset last Sunday, which has left them with some tricky selection decisions as England trio Darren Gough, Craig White and Michael Vaughan return to contention.

Lancashire welcome back Mike Atherton, who is likely to replace Mark Chilton, and Ian Austin should be fit to continue his comeback after Simpson confirmed that he came through the Sussex game with no reaction to his calf problem. Simpson was also staying in close touch with Southport, where Peter Martin was making his long-awaited comeback for the second team after nine weeks out with a badly broken thumb.

Lancs from: Atherton, Crawley, Flintoff, Ganguly, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Hegg, Schofield, Yates, Austin, Chapple, Smethurst, Keedy.