AUSTRALIAN overseas signing Travis Head is due to link up with Yorkshire next week, nearly two weeks earlier than expected.

It is hoped that the explosive left-hander will debut against Birmingham Bears in the NatWest T20 Blast at Headingley next Friday.

That would mean Head, who lit up Australia’s Big Bash competition over Christmas and into the New Year for Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers, will line up alongside New Zealand captain Kane Williamson for three T20 matches.

“We just hope it’s not too late for qualification,” said Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon.

The Vikings face a crucial clash with Lancashire at a sold-out Headingley tonight knowing it is realistically a must win game having won only one of seven in the North Group so far.

Moxon believes they could one more slip up from their remaining seven games, but it would be a hammer blow if that came tonight.

"I think it is pretty obvious that at the very best we can afford to have only one more defeat if we are to stand a good chance of going forward in the competition," he confirmed.

"Every fixture is important, but the Roses match is an even bigger game than normal.

"We have had our injury problems this season and have been hit by the weather in the T20 Blast, but I really don't want to use mitigating circumstances as an excuse.

"We have simply not played as well as we can, and it is pretty frustrating for us all. The players are desperate to win, and they have probably been trying too hard to be honest.

"We can just hope that our skills start to come out.

“Our batsmen need to be confident they can strike the ball without fear, and our bowlers need to be able to execute their skills whenever required.

“You have to have confidence in T20 cricket, you cannot go out with doubt in your minds.

"Our form to date has been frustrating and very disappointing for all concerned, not least for the supporters who have watch us.

“Getting through to the quarter-finals is still our minimum target - we missed out last year, and we are still a long way from achieving our aim.

"There is room for improvement in all formats, but in the Championship we know how to win. That is the difference. In T20, we are still searching for the winning formula.”

Head was initially due to arrive at Headingley on July 18, once Williamson departs, so it is a huge boost to Yorkshire to have him from Tuesday.

Williamson, meanwhile, could come up against his New Zealand team-mate Neil Wagner tonight.

Lancashire’s overseas bowler has not been a regular T20 starter this season, but he would relish the opportunity to face his close friend.

“It would be great to play against Kane,” he said.

“Hopefully I get the chance because we love playing against each other. There’s always a bit of a personal battle there.

“I would look forward to that. It would be a great challenge.

“When you get a player of his class out, you know that you’re doing something right.

“Kane is just an absolute class player and a champion of a bloke.”

Yorkshire squad: Lees c, Ballance, Bresnan, Carver, Coad, Gibson, Hodd w, Leaning, Lyth, Patterson, Rafiq, Rhodes, Shaw, Williamson.