LANCASHIRE all-rounder Tom Smith is hoping the weather and Nottinghamshire can do them a favour as they aim to claim their first outright County Championship title for 72 years.

The former Chorley pro will line up for the Red Rose county today as they take on Hampshire at the Rose Bowl knowing only a win over the next four days will do - and hope that leaders Sussex don't win as they face the outgoing champions at Trent Bridge if Lancashire are to be crowned title winners again.

And Smith, 20, who has been included in this winter's ECB Academy squad to travel to Australia, reckons Mother Nature owes Lancashire a favour after seeing over 1000 overs washed out so far this season.

He said: "We know we have to win the game and the Rose Bowl is usually a result pitch and, with the likes of Jimmy Anderson in the team and back in form, we know we have the team to do it.

"And we hope, for a change, the weather will be on our side. We've lost over a 1,000 overs of cricket so far this season and Sussex have had the rub of the green in that respect or the title race might look very different.

"Sussex have to travel north where, as we know to our cost, the weather can be a bit wetter than it is in the south of the country, so that could help us as well.

"But we just have to make sure we win against Hampshire and then keep our fingers crossed."

And taking the title from the grasp of Sussex will be all the sweeter after the south coast side beat Lancashire in the C&G Trophy final at Lord's last month.

Lancashire were cruising after reducing the visitors to 78-6 but James Kirtley took 5 for 27 to ensure the trophy went to Chris Adams' Sussex side. He added: "We'd love to get revenge on them. We want to win to let them know that we remember what happened at Lord's and we want to put one back over on them.

"I think we've deserved a trophy for the way we've played this season and we nearly got it in the C&G Trophy.

We didn't get it on that day so we have to make sure that we win our last game and hope the results go in our favour.

"To end my first season on the county circuit with some silverware would be fantastic."

Lancashire captain Mark Chilton has challenged his side to give one last demonstration of their never-say-die attitude.

He said: "Although we've not been very lucky weather-wise, and it can get you down sometimes, we're still in there with a chance going into the last game of the season.

"Even though there have been times when we haven't got full games in, there's not much more we could have done as a team.

"We've had one eye on where Notts are in the table, so the fact they're not safe yet might help us a bit this week. They won't just roll over against Sussex."

Lancashire will choose from the following: Mark Chilton, Iain Sutcliffe, Mal Loye, Stuart Law, Nathan Astle, Luke Sutton, Glen Chapple, Dominic Cork, Tom Smith, Gary Keedy, Kartik Murali, James Anderson, Kyle Hogg, Steven Croft.