Mushtaq Ahmed today paid his cross-border leg-spin rival the biggest compliment going.

The Sussex talisman reckons Shane Warne is the best spin bowler to have ever played the game.

But he will not mind putting Warne in the shade when their respective counties lock horns in today's eagerly-awaited C&G Trophy south conference showdown at Hove (2.40).

Mushtaq has taken ten wickets at 26 apiece and a decent economy rate of 4.24 runs per over in Sussex's seven C&G games to date this season.

But Warne can better that with 14 victims at 15.64, including a career best 6-42 in the last match, a win over struggling Surrey at Croydon.

Warne took his six wickets in the space of 20 balls in that match and Mushtaq emerged from a two-hour session of bowling, topped off with a bit of fielding practice, at Hove yesterday to sing the Aussie's praises.

Mushtaq said: "I have respect for Shane Warne. He is always a great spinner.

"I have no comparison with him to be honest. He is the No. 1 in the world, ever. I think there is no competition.

"When you talk about leg spinners, he has got the perfect action. He has all the talent and delivers that all the time. That's why I think he is the best.

"But you're always learning in life. Whenever I see him bowling in a match or on TV I can always pick something from his action or whatever. I always learn from him."

Mushtaq has not played in a major Lord's occasion since a Test match for Pakistan in 1996, when he took 5-57, and he promises to treat today's opportunity to get to a final as though it is his last.

He said: "Every game is a big game for people like me who have played more cricket.

"Youngsters have the advantage they they can come back. The veterans have to do it today.

"We will give it our best and enjoy the situation, enjoy the challenge.

"You have to give your best and stay with your team mates, that's all you can do. We always believe it's not a single-man game, it's a team-unit game."

Which means, no matter how much it seems like it to many of an expected 4,000 crowd at the County Ground today, the match does not just come down to Mushy v Warney.

Sussex were assessing all options yesterday.

Carl Hopkinson was sent back out after batting and fielding to go through his bowling paces in case the dislocated finger which sidelined Michael Yardy recently plays up.

The full squad went through a thorough workout in outdoor nets, as well as fielding drills and some conditioning work organised by fitness coach Ben Haining.

Preparations by the RFA display team, who will perform today, helped add to the buzz and sense of anticipation around the ground.

The fact Hampshire need to win both their remaining games to have a chance of reaching another Lord's final would appear to place more pressure on them.

Not so, according to Dimitri Mascarenhas, their bowler who took a Twenty20 Cup hat-trick at Hove two years ago.

He said: "We expected if you lost two games in the group stage you would be out.

"We've lost two already but we've been given a little bit of a lifeline. Now it's pretty much knockout for us.

"If we win we've got a chance, if we lose we're out. It will be pretty special."