SOUTH Africa's opening batsman Gary Kirsten is top of Yorkshire's list to replace Darren Lehmann if the Australian is unavailable for the first three weeks of the season.

Herschelle Gibbs, Kirsten's opening partner, has also been spoken to by Yorkshire as a possible replacement, along with Australian left-hander, Simon Katich, who was with Durham two years ago.

Wayne Clark, Yorkshire's director of coaching, stressed nothing could be finalised until it became known whether Australia's tour to Zimbabwe in April and May would go ahead in view of the uncertain political situation in the host country.

"If the tour is called off then Lehmann will be available for us right from the start but at the moment we can only monitor the situation," said Clark, who spent his first day at Headingley yesterday after flying in from Australia on Wednesday.

"Lehmann is currently with Australia in South Africa for the Test series and he is chatting with Kirsten and Gibbs," said Clark.

"We are waiting for him to report back but I would say that Kirsten would be our first choice."

Clark also revealed that Jacques Kallis had earlier been invited by Yorkshire to replace Lehmann if necessary but the South African all-rounder had turned down the offer because he felt he needed a rest.

Those Yorkshire players not either with England in New Zealand or at the England Academy in Adelaide will report for training at the David Lloyd Centre in Leeds on Monday, apart from Darren Gough who has been told he does not have to join the squad until April 6.

Clark has not yet decided who will captain Yorkshire if Lehmann is absent but if Michael Vaughan is ordered by England to rest-up at the start of the season then Gough would appear to be the automatic choice.

Yorkshire already have one injury worry with Anthony McGrath suffering a recurrence of his groin problem while playing grade cricket in Western Australia this winter.

Updated: 11:49 Friday, March 01, 2002