LANCASHIRE today left their Championship worries behind at Old Trafford and headed south on their mission to clinch the one-day double.

Defeat by Middlesex on a pitch which almost cost them 25 points was not ideal preparation for their second Lord's final of the season, against Essex in the NatWest Trophy.

And although Lancashire escaped with a warning, the threat of a 10-point penalty for any unsatisfactory pitch at Old Trafford next season already looms as a cloud over their hopes of a real tilt at the Championship with Wasim Akram back in the ranks.

But skipper Mike Watkinson insists it will have no effect on morale this weekend as Lancashire aim to repeat their historic double of 1990. "Firing ourselves up for the big occasion is not a problem," said Watkinson, in line to emulate the achievement of David Hughes as a double-winning captain in his eighth Lord's final.

"It was a disappointment to lose to Middlesex, but it was a good game of cricket, and we had five good days at Hove last week where we beat Sussex in both the Championship and the Sunday League.

"We love the big day out at Lord's and it tends to bring the best out of us. We know exactly what we have to do."

Lancashire are set to name the team which beat Northants so comfortably in the Benson and Hedges Cup in July. Although they made five changes for the Middlesex game, Ian Austin was the only real doubt for Lord's after suffering a hamstring injury at Hove - but no way will Austin miss this. Essex will be without Australian inspiration Stuart Law, a massive boost for Lancashire.

But ex-Red Rose favourite Ronnie Irani fires a pre-final warning to his former team-mates.

"You have had your taste of Lord's glory - in fact more than a taste," said the explosive all-rounder.

"Now we want some, and we won't be scared of chasing a big target if we have to. It has been a tremendous season for me with lots of big games, both for Essex and for England. Even so a Lord's final is something special and I want to make it one to remember."

Lancashire (probable): Atherton, Gallian, Crawley, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Watkinson, Hegg, Austin, Yates, Chapple, Martin.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.