Australian Test star Damien Martyn was back in Yorkshire's squad for the showdown with Gloucestershire at Headingley which will determine which of the two sides gains promotion to division one of the County Championship.

To add extra spice to what promises to be fierce game, Gloucestershire have in their ranks Ian Harvey, the Australian all-rounder who is tipped to be joining Yorkshire next season.

Also making his last Championship appearance for Gloucestershire is their great South African batsman and fielder Jonty Rhodes, who retires at the end of the season despite being at the peak of his form.

Rhodes, who plundered a century in each innings in Gloucestershire's previous game, against Durham, has hammered three 'tons' in his last four visits to the crease.

Also anxious to make a big impression on his home territory is Bradford-born left-arm spinner Ian Fisher, who has bagged five wickets in the last three innings in which he has bowled.

Nothing less than outright victory will do for Yorkshire after slipping to defeat against table-toppers Worcestershire at New Road on Monday.

That reverse meant that Gloucestershire stole the third promotion place off them. A draw will not be good enough for Yorkshire to snatch it back.

"We played very well for large parts of the match against Worcestershire before falling away on the last afternoon but now we must be at our best all the time otherwise, we will not get promoted," said skipper Anthony McGrath.

The return of Martyn is a big boost for Yorkshire. He broke his nose almost a fortnight ago when batting against Somerset in his maiden innings for his adopted county.

Martyn could easily have decided to catch the next plane back home, but he insisted on staying with Yorkshire in order to give them every chance of finishing the season on a high note.

He even spent four days with the team in Worcester, where he took part in practice sessions and maintained his high level of fitness.

Yorkshire are not finalising their side until shortly before the toss but their squad of 13 includes Darren Gough, who was dropped for the Worcestershire game because they preferred to have an extra batsman.

Yorkshire (from): Wood, Taylor, McGrath, Lumb, Martin, Craven, White, Blakey, Dawson, Gough, Kirby, Silverwood, Hoggard.

Gloucestershire (from): Weston, Spearman, Hancock, Rhodes, Windows, Harvey, Russell, Gidman, Ball, Hardinges, Fisher, Lewis, Smith.

Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, September 17, 2003