Sussex's new fast bowler Paul Hutchison believes he will be in the best possible shape to spearhead the county's Championship challenge.

The 24-year-old left-armer arrived in South Africa today with new team-mate Michael Yardy and Sussex youth prospect Krishana Singh to spend two months at the Port Elizabeth Cricket Academy.

They will work on all aspects of their game in a fully integrated programme as well as playing for the Academy team.

Sussex off-spinner Mark Davis and the county's former opening batsman Kepler Wessels are on the coaching staff.

Hutchison joined Sussex on a three-year contract in September after his Yorkshire career was blighted by injury.

He suffered a stress fracture in his back in 1999 and niggling injuries restricted him to just four Championship appearances in his final two years at Headingley.

But he has been working hard on his fitness during the winter and even organised his own net sessions in Leeds with Yorkshire batsman Vic Craven and slow bowlers James Middlebrook and Ian Fisher who have also left the county champions to join Essex and Gloucestershire respectively.

He said: "I'm really getting back into the swing of things now and the next two months are a great opportunity for me.

"When he season starts I want to be firing straight away. I don't really know what to expect in Port Elizabeth, but I'm sure it will be very beneficial for me and Michael.

"I've been to South Africa four or five times on pre-season trips with Yorkshire. Apparently we're staying on a beachfront hotel in PE, but I don't think it's going to be a holiday!"

Coach Peter Moores said: "It will be pretty challenging, but it will be a great opportunity for the lads who are going. It's a structured programme and if it goes well we could end up sending more of our guys there in 2003."

Yardy and Hutchison will have just a week back at home before heading off on Sussex's pre-season training camp in Grenada.

The provisional itinerary includes games against Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and the Windward Islands.