as Lightning aim to bounce straight back following their shock relegation to the Second Division.

With new signings John Wood, Ryan Driver and Tim Roberts also missing out on the rain-hit game against Surrey, Lancashire could almost field a completely different team, with the obvious exceptions of key players like Muttiah Muralitharan, Peter Martin, Neil Fairbrother, Andy Flintoff, Warren Hegg and captain John Crawley.

It should be a straightforward start for Lightning against a Hampshire team who finished eighth in the Second Division last season despite the presence of Shane Warne, who has been replaced in Southampton this year by Zimbabwean all-rounder Neil Johnson.

But Austin, who is set to be used as a one-day specialist this year, is warning against complacency.

"People might think that we're going to walk it now we're in the Second Division, but we can't look at it like that," he said.

"We'll have to be on top of our game which didn't happen often last season, if we're honest."

The Hampshire game represents a change in gear in Lancashire's season, as it is followed by five Benson and Hedges Cup qualifying matches.

They play Durham, Derbyshire and Yorkshire at Aigburth next Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, with trips to Leicestershire on Wednesday and Nottinghamshire the following Monday.

Austin and Lloyd were denied the chance to build their form and confidence yesterday as the second team game against Durham University went the same way as the second day of Lancashire's Championship game against Surrey at Old Trafford - a washout.

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