Karl Brown will be hoping to continue his impressive start to pre-season today when Lancashire take on county rivals Durham in South Africa.

The former Atherton batsman has been a star in the making ever since his time at Higham Park - and he is certainly catching the eye of cricket manager Mike Watkinson.

Following on from an England Under-19 tour to Malaysia, where he recorded a century against India, the 18-year-old has helped the Red Rose to two successive friendly wins.

He eased his way to 28 in a Twenty20 style win over a Boland XI on Friday before pounding 106 against a Claremont XI on Sunday.

"Karl Brown is certainly impressing at the moment, and is doing his chances of getting into the first team no harm," said Watkinson from the team's Cape Town base.

Brown played just one first-class game last season against a Durham University side, but travelled with the first-team squad to a couple of County Championship games.

He is an opening batsman from an ever-growing list of Academy graduates that includes the likes of Tom Smith, Gareth Cross and Steven Mullaney.

But if he is to force his way into the side in time for the trip to Warwickshire on April 18, he may just have to drop down the order into less familiar territory.

The opening partnership of Iain Sutcliffe and captain Mark Chilton looks like it is pretty much set in stone, so he will have to slot in at a position most likely to be number five behind Stuart Law and Mal Loye.

The international absence of Australian run machine Brad Hodge heightens the chances of Brown's selection - but he will face stiff competition from Paul Horton and wicketkeeper-batsman Gareth Cross, who could play as a batsman alone.

"I know what you are saying, but sooner rather than later I want to be in the on merit. I want to show what I can do," admitted Brown on arrival back from Kuala Lumpur last month.

"Obviously more international call-ups do give me a better chance of forcing my way in, but it doesn't help the club. I will just have to take it as it comes."

Although workouts against club sides such as Boland and Claremont will be useful for getting that rhythm back, the real acid test for Brown will come against the strength of Durham in today's two-day clash.

Lancashire also face the men from the Riverside in their final warm-up game at Old Trafford the week before lift off.

And if Brown can continue his good run of form, he could be in line to face more county opposition in Lancs' opening County Championship clash at Edgbaston on April 18.