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Mike Atherton's back injury won't trouble Lancashire too much as long as Mark Chilton retains the form which has produced a glut of runs in his first two games.

The 22-year-old opener, who is following in Atherton's footsteps as an ex Manchester Grammar School student, hammered 87 yesterday in the championship draw with Sussex, to take his tally in three innings to 224.

It followed his unbeaten 106 - the earliest ever century in first class cricket - and 31 against Cambridge University last week, and was further evidence that Lancashire have unearthed another batting gem.

Chilton's next target is tomorrow's opening National League clash against Kent where he hopes to prove that he should be a regular member of the Kings of One Day Cricket line up.

``I would like to be more involved in the one day stuff,'' he said. ``My swing bowling could be a factor in that, it might just give me the edge over a few others.''

Chilton starred for British Universities in the Benson and Hedges Cup last year, scored 40 for Lancashire in the NatWest Trophy quarter final when Neil Fairbrother was unfit, and appeared in a handful of league games.

Now, with Atherton out and three others of last year's double winning side on World Cup duty, he sees the chance to make his mark.

Chilton is set to open with Mike Watkinson when Lancashire, whose rain-hit match with Sussex meandered to a draw yesterday, launch the defence of their league title at Canterbury where they switch to their 45 overs name of Lightning.

Lancashire Lightning (from): Chilton, Watkinson, Crawley, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Flintoff, Hegg, Austin, Yates, Chapple, Martin, Schofield.