Chris Adams is winning his fitness battle ahead of a crucial week in the Championship title race.

Adams will definitely play in Thursday's second versus third battle with Lancashire at Hove after having an injection to ease the discomfort of tennis elbow and intensive physiotherapy.

The Sussex skipper will pick up a bat for the first time in ten days tomorrow and still hopes to play in the National League match against Lancashire at Hove (4.10pm).

But if there is any sort of reaction he will miss the day-nighter to make sure he is ready for the following day's Championship match.

He said: "It feels fine at the moment but I won't know if the injection has worked until I pick a bat up and I pivot the elbow.

"The idea of the injection was to make sure I was pain-free for the Championship run-in. I would like to have a hit on Wednesday but I don't want to stir the injury again. I'll definitely be playing on Thursday though."

Both Sussex and Lancashire will nominate substitutes for the four-day match as James Kirtley and Glenn Chapple battle for the third specialist seamer's position in the England team for the third Test at Trent Bridge on Thursday.

The feeling is that Kirtley, overlooked for the last three Tests, will finally get the opportunity to make his debut which would mean Sussex's Championship attack being led by Paul Hutchison and Billy Taylor.

The pair began the season in the second XI, but Adams believes they are capable of leading Sussex's challenge for Championship honours against a strong Lancashire batting line-up.

"If Billy hadn't got injured at the Oval at the start of June who's to say he wouldn't have kept his place," said Adams.

"He has learnt to take the ball away from the right-handers and is bowling with a lot of discipline. Hutch is a genuine wicket-taker and don't forget Robin Martin-Jenkins who has done a solid job for us all year."

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