ANDY Flintoff believes Lancashire have a real chance of challenging Surrey for the Championship this summer - and is determined to play his part while he can.

Flintoff and James Anderson were cleared by England to play in the opening game against the champions at the Oval this weekend, and also hope to be available to face Notts at Old Trafford later this week.

"It's a great game to start off with," said Flintoff. "Surrey are the team everyone is trying to follow but we've got some good ones ourselves. I don't want to put too much pressure on them but we have more strength in depth, and if we can get off to a good start we've got every chance this year."

"I actually get more nervous playing for Lancashire than I do for England," he added. "You come back for a game here and there, and the nerves are jangling.

"I want to give something back to Lancashire, they've been very good to me over the years. I'd love to captain them one day when I'm a bit older."

Flintoff himself feels "in great nick." "I started hitting a bit of form towards the end of the World Cup, and since I've been back I've been training hard."