With Lancashire out of form and beset by injury problems, things appeared to be going almost too well for Yorkshire as they geared themselves up for today's Roses clash at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

Yorkshire had England captain Michael Vaughan and strike bowler Matthew Hoggard back in their fully fit squad of 13 but captain Craig White was taking a close look at the pitch shortly before the start before deciding who to leave out.

Lancashire, on the other hand, were missing star all-rounder Andy Flintoff because of a sore Achilles tendon which England coach Duncan Fletcher wants him to rest before next week's NatWest Series with New Zealand and the West Indies.

And with Australian left-hander Stuart Law and West Indian all-rounder Carl Hooper still suffering injury problems along with Glen Chapple, Iain Sutcliffe and Peter Martin, Lancashire had plenty to worry about.

All were expected to pronounce themselves fit for selection, but Lancashire added to their bowling strength by bringing Yorkshire-born John Wood, the former Durham paceman, into their squad. If Wood plays it will be his first appearance of the season.

Although Yorkshire would like a pitch which suits their battery of fast bowlers they will not complain if it takes spin, as Old Trafford invariably does.

Richard Dawson over the past two or three weeks has discovered his best form for some time and the off-spinner is Yorkshire's leading bowler in both the Championship and the totesport League.

He has claimed 21 wickets in the Championship at just 25 runs apiece while he has managed 13 dismissals at 16.92 in the totesport League.

Yorkshire have advanced to the quarter finals as a result of resounding wins over Minor Counties opponents in the previous two rounds.

They conquered Dorset by eight wickets at Bournemouth and then routed Devon by 132 runs at Exmouth in a match which brought 690 runs and a total of 24 sixes.

Matthew Wood plundered 160 in that game to record Yorkshire's biggest individual innings in the competition, overtaking the 146 made by Geoff Boycott against Surrey in the 1965 Gillette Cup final.

Anthony McGrath slammed a rapid 64 not out at Exmouth with some spectacular sixes and he was looking for a big innings today to get himself in the right frame of mind for his return to the England squad for the NatWest Series.

Renewing friendships at Old Trafford today was former Lancashire all-rounder Ian Austin, now captain of Bradford League club Cleckheaton.

Austin, 38, played in eight Lord's finals and collected six winners' medals and two gold awards.

As well as helping to knock Yorkshire out of several cup matches he also scored his maiden Championship century against them at Scarborough in 1991. His 100 off 61 balls was the fastest century of the season but it could not stop Yorkshire from going on to win the match.

Updated: 11:19 Wednesday, June 16, 2004