Fairbrother aggravated his thigh injury in his innings of 70 in Sunday's tie against Middlesex, and captain Mike Watkinson said today: ``It has been tight again since Sunday and the worse scenario is that he's not going to be fit for Wednesday.''
Lancashire are already without Wasim for the game against struggling Sussex at Hove with a big doubt over Glen Chapple, while Peter Martin and Watkinson himself will also have fitness tests tomorrow morning.
That could hand a NatWest debut to Andrew Flintoff or Mark Chilton who have both impressed in recent weeks, although Mark Harvey will also come into contention after his man of the match performance in Lancashire's first round victory over Berkshire.
Chapple is still suffering from his stomach injury and unlikely to play, but Martin is making good progress after being forced out of the Sunday game with a back spasm and Watkinson, Jason Gallian and Ian Austin all came through without any further problems.
Sussex have a dangerous attack with West Indian Vasbert Drakes and James Kirtley, the young bowler who destroyed England in Zimbabwe last winter.
Lancashire (from): Atherton, Gallian, Crawley, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Watkinson, Hegg, Austin, Martin, Yates, Shadford, Chapple, Flintoff, Chilton, Harvey.