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The season starts here!

That's the message from Lancashire skipper John Crawley on the eve of the Championship match against Warwickshire at Southport.

Lancashire go into the game third from bottom of the table, with a lot of ground to make up to avoid finishing in the bottom half and being dumped in Division Two next season.

But at last they will be able to field virtually a full strength side. Neil Fairbrother and Ian Austin, who have missed the last four games on England World Cup duty - including last week's washout against Gloucestershire because of their meeting with the Queen at Buckingham Palace - return to join Andy Flintoff, who played at Bristol, and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Mike Atherton is still out, waiting for the all-clear on his back problem, and Lancashire also have a doubt over Glen Chapple who has been suffering from a side strain.

But they will still be able to field their strongest team of the year. ``It's a great boost to have all our England guys back,'' said skipper Crawley, who also expects to return after missing the Gloucester game with a thumb injury.

``Andy Flintoff gave us an idea of what we've been missing with his innings at Bristol, and Neil Fairbrother and Ian Austin will further strengthen the batting and bowling.

``The young players who have come in haven't been able to produce the goods for some reason. They are fine players, but perhaps they have felt the extra pressure.'' Crawley is also relishing the prospect of a return to Southport, where he scored his career best 281 not out on his only previous visit against Somerset in 1994.

He missed out on Lancashire's last match at Southport in 1997, when they lost to an impressive Surrey team and wickets fell so quickly that Harry Brind headed north from Lord's to inspect the pitch.

The game only goes ahead after a late change of heart by the local council, who initially refused to provide funding which led Lancashire to put Liverpool on stand-by as an alternative venue.

And the visit of Warwickshire will bring back memories of an amazing match in 1982, when Alvin Kallicheran and Geoff Humpage shared a partnership of 470.

But Lancashire still won by 10 wickets thanks to impressive performances by Les Macfarlane, Graeme Fowler and David Lloyd.