Gary Keedy has backed Lancashire's out of form batsmen to come good sooner rather than later.

The Red Rose spinner says the likes of Mal Loye, Stuart Law and Mohammad Yousuf need a lengthy spell in the middle in order to cure the problems that are threatening to ruin their early season charge for honours.

Lancashire need to win their final Friends Provident Trophy North Division game against Yorkshire at Headingley on Wednesday to have any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

But their issues are not just confined to the one-day arena, with a top score of just 241, against Surrey, in the County Championship.

The Old Trafford outfit have only secured two batting bonus points out of a possible 20 in LV Division One.

But Keedy has backed the batsmen to come good.

"The lads are playing well in the nets, but they are going through a tough period," he said. "We are just not putting partnerships together.

"The batters seem to be lacking some confidence.

"That can sometimes mean that people go searching for the ball and, because you are a bit anxious, you sometimes play shots that you perhaps wouldn't usually play.

"The key thing is time in the middle. The start of Twenty20 may kick-start a few people into form. You have got to be aggressive and go for your shots."

Paul Horton is the leading batsman in the four-day game, having scored one century and two fifties.

And Francois Du Plessis is the man in form in the 50-over game, having scored two half-centuries - including a match-winning 77 not out against Yorkshire.

But tail-ender Keedy has also impressed with the willow in both forms of the game, including a career-best 33 in the latest Friends Provident defeat at Derbyshire.

"I take a lot of pride in my batting," he added. "My technique and mindset for batting is very simple. If it's on my stumps I defend it, if it's short I get out of the way of it - and if it's there to drive I will take it."