Steve Magoffin insists Sussex are capable of maintaining a title challenge in the Championship even without Chris Jordan.

Jordan has played just two Championship matches this season after establishing himself as a key member of the England set-up.

The 25-year-old all-rounder is almost certain to be called up for the first Test against Sri Lanka next week and if he continues to shine he is unlikely to feature much for Sussex again this season.

Jordan took 59 Championship wickets in his debut season at Hove last summer and Magoffin admits he will leave a big hole in Sussex’s bowling attack.

But he also believes the likes of Jimmy Anyon, Jon Lewis and himself can rise to the challenge, starting against Nottinghamshire today.

Magoffin said: “If we had CJ it would be brilliant but he is off performing really well for England.

“If you are picking the Test side now he would definitely be in it so I don’t expect we’ll be seeing too much more of him this summer.

“Obviously that is a blow but it is great for him and great for the club as well. We are all proud of what he is doing.

“We will probably miss him but we are ready to step up and cover for him. It doesn’t change my role in the side at all really and we’ve got Jon who is an experienced bowler as well as Jimmy.”

Magoffin is preparing to face the player who scuppered his hopes of playing for Australia four years ago.

The Sussex man was flown to South Africa as cover for Peter Siddle ahead of the second Test in Durban but the Australia seamer was deemed fit enough to play and Magoffin was never called on again.

“I know Pete very well,” added Magoffin.

“We played a lot against one another back in (Sheffield) Shield cricket so it will be good to catch up with him.

“He is going pretty well. He is a very good signing.

“He is available all season which is great for Notts and I’m sure he’ll be successful.

“I suppose you could say he denied me a Test cap. He had a little niggle so they flew me over just in case but he was fine, they won and he bowled well so that was that.”

Sussex won their opening two Championship games of the season to top the table but head into today’s game just behind Notts in fifth place.

A surprise defeat against Somerset at Hove has been followed by two rain-affected draws against Lancashire and Durham and a complete washout against Middlesex.

Magoffin added: “It’s been very frustrating.

“We started well and were in very good positions in two of those games so to be denied the chance to get a result in those was disappointing. We had a little bit of a slip-up against Somerset but you’ve got to expect that at some point during a season.

“Even though we haven’t won for a while it is still a really tight table. Middlesex have won four of their games to open up a little gap at the top but it’s not massive.

“We’re not too worried. We know we are playing all right and with five games coming up in the next four weeks we’ve got a great chance to climb the table.”