YORKSHIRE'S Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy quarter-final showdown with Northamptonshire at Headingley tomorrow gives Matthew Hoggard the opportunity to make a big impression for his county before joining England next week in the battle for the Ashes.

Hoggard's name has been added to the team which lost by three runs to Surrey in the Totesport League on Wednesday and he is expected to come in for left-arm paceman David Lucas, who will be 12th man.

Yorkshire would dearly love to have Michael Vaughan in their side but he has been barred from playing by England, who fear he could exacerbate a groin strain, and they will also be without captain Craig White, who has had fluid removed from his knee.

The presence of Hoggard should boost team morale but the England paceman needs to show sharper form than he has so far managed in one-day matches for Yorkshire this season. There is no doubting his commitment, however, and he will be anxious to knock over a few wickets in order to set himself up nicely for the forthcoming Test series.

Having expected Vaughan to play, Yorkshire are putting a brave face on England's decision not to let him take part, despite having been fit enough to lead his country in their three recent NatWest Challenge matches against Australia.

"The matter is out of our hands and there is no point in crying over spilt milk," said director of cricket, David Byas.

"Obviously, we would have liked Michael to be with us but he has a huge summer ahead of him and has to be fully fit for that. He is a top class player but we have also done well when he has not been in the side and everyone will be doing their best to beat Northamptonshire and make it through to the semi-finals."

Last year, Vaughan scored an epic 116 not out against Lancashire at Old Trafford to get Yorkshire through the quarter-finals but they then tripped up badly against Gloucestershire at Bristol. This time they are determined to make it to Lord's in the final year of the C&G Trophy in its present knockout format.

They will take comfort from knowing that when they won the C&G Trophy in 2002 they beat Northamptonshire by 49 runs at Wantage Road in the fourth round, Matthew Wood top-scoring in a hefty 303-3 before Hoggard, Chris Silverwood and Ryan Sidebottom each claimed two wickets as Northants were bowled out for 254.

But Yorkshire's earlier record in the competition against Northants is quite abysmal for they have lost all four of their previous encounters.

Yorkshire (v Northamptonshire) from: Wood, Jaques, Lumb, McGrath, Harvey, Pyrah, Dawood, Bresnan, Dawson, Hoggard, Kruis, Lucas.

Updated: 11:04 Friday, July 15, 2005