YORKSHIRE are confident they can bounce back from last month’s Specsavers County Championship defeat to Surrey at Scarborough when they tackle Lancashire, starting on Sunday.

The Roses rivals meet at Emirates Old Trafford in the Vitality Blast tonight and do so again at the same venue in two days, with both sides able to field all their Test Match stars.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow will play against Lancashire and England team-mates Jimmy Anderson and Jos Buttler as they warm up for the forthcoming Test series against India.

Both sides are struggling at the wrong end of Division One, with Lancashire sixth and Yorkshire seventh.

Lancashire are three points better off with one win from eight, but they have played a game more than Yorkshire, who have won two from seven.

Last time out, the White Rose were beaten by seven wickets against leaders Surrey, while Lancashire drew a home game with Hampshire.

“We had a tough result at Scarborough, but the good T20 form we’ve shown has given us confidence,” said former captain Gary Ballance. “Hopefully we can carry that forwards into the four-day format.

“We’ve come up against some good sides so far. Surrey just played better than us over the four days. We weren’t ruthless enough. We had our chances, but we didn't take them.

“It has been tough for the first half of the year in the four-day stuff. But if we can put more consistent performances in, the results will come.”

One significant positive for Yorkshire is that their Division One destiny is in their own hands. They play bottom side Worcestershire twice, Lancashire twice and Hampshire once - all teams who are around them in the table.

Ballance has played in five Roses Championship matches, including his first at Liverpool in 2011, a feisty affair which the hosts won.

But the in-form left-hander insists tensions have never spilt over between the two sides and that the competitive rivalry is a healthy one.

He said: “Roses matches are different, in all forms of the game. There’s a bit more on them, and it’s always good to play in them. I don’t get involved in any of the verbals or things like that.

“If guys want to have a few words, that’s fine. It’s all good fun. They are well fought, but I haven't been involved in any that have gone over the top, which you don't want.”

Since the start of June, in all formats, Ballance has been in impressive form, posting scores of 38, 66, 91, 25, 109, 21, 54, 15, 0, 79, 17 and 40.

“I feel very good, but I can’t take it for granted,” he added. “I’ve got to keep working and cash in with some big scores, which will hopefully bring some wins for the boys.”

Warwickshire leg-spinner Josh Poysden debuts after signing a one-match loan deal.

Yorkshire squad v Lancashire: Patterson (c), Ballance, Bairstow (wkt), Bresnan, Brook, Brooks, Coad, Fisher, Lyth, Poysden, Root, Williamson.