Michael Vaughan and Darren Gough will both be on show for Yorkshire Phoenix in their first home National League match of the season against Essex Eagles at Headingley on Bank Holiday Monday.

But doubts surround their England colleague, Matthew Hoggard, and also Chris Silverwood who is having treatment on a foot ligament injury which he suffered during the present Championship game against Hampshire.

Hoggard has now recovered from his pulled stomach muscle but the recent bad weather has left him short of match practice and his return may be delayed a little longer.

The same uncertainty applies to Australian left-hander Matthew Elliott who has not made an appearance so far this season because of a knee strain. He, too, is much improved but short of practice.

A question mark also hangs over Steven Kirby, who has had treatment for back spasms, and if several of the fast bowlers are unfit on the day then South African-born all-rounder Pieter Swanepoel could be in line for his Yorkshire debut.

Swanepoel, 26, who comes from Paarl in the Cape, had a successful season with Yorkshire Seconds last summer and has since signed a one-year contract after becoming an England qualified player.

Yorkshire fans will be keeping a close eye on Michael Lumb in Monday's match to see if he can continue the sparkling batting form which brought him a belligerent 61 in the National League win over Warwickshire Bears at Edgbaston last Sunday and a stunning unbeaten 115 in the Championship match at Southampton.

Unfortunately, a monsoon washed out any chance of Lumb adding to his searing start. Yesterday's downpours prevented any play at all during the third day against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Essex Eagles) from: Vaughan, Wood, Lumb, McGrath, Blakey, Fellows, Gray, Gough, Sidebottom, Bresnan, Silverwood, Kirby, Hoggard, Swanepoel.

Updated: 10:33 Saturday, May 03, 2003