Mark Ealham faces a late fitness test on a stiff back before Notts finalise their team selection for tomorrow’s LV County Championship game against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The 38 year old all-rounder could be replaced by Luke Fletcher if the problem persists although he is odds-on to recover in time to take his place in the side.

Matt Wood returns to open the batting alongside Will Jefferson with Darren Pattinson, Charlie Shreck and Paul Franks joining Ealham or Fletcher in the seam attack.

“This is our final County Championship game before the Twenty20 Cup begins and afterwards we will be in a position to take some time to assess how we have done and where we can make improvements,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

“Lancashire are a good all-round side and although they struggled with the bat against Yorkshire, we know that they are very capable of achieving big scores.”

Samit Patel starred in Wednesday’s narrow defeat against Durham Dynamos, taking 3-27 having hit 114 of the Outlaws’ 188 runs, and Newell hopes that he can carry his form into the Championship fixture.

“Samit played fantastically well against Durham and he deserved to be on the winning side but he has to perform again,” said Newell.

“It was a great innings but I would have preferred to have seen more runs from the top order and this will be a very important game for us.”

Nottinghamshire squad to face Lancashire (from): Will Jefferson, Matt Wood, Mark Wagh, Adam Voges, Samit Patel, Chris Read, Graeme Swann, Mark Ealham, Paul Franks, Darren Pattinson, Charlie Shreck, Luke Fletcher