PETER MARTIN has been ruled out of Lancashire's trip to table-topping Gloucestershire in the Norwich Union National League on Saturday.

The tall paceman is still suffering from the side strain which kept him out of last week's Championship game against Hampshire at Southampton.

It's a big blow for Lancashire as they aim to improve on their terrible record at Bristol in recent years, and maintain their outside chances of promotion.

Martin has been an ever-present in the National League this season and produced the usual consistent form with 14 wickets, second only to John Wood's 19, the leading tally in the country.

But Lancashire now hope he will recover in time for next week's return matches against Hampshire at Old Trafford, a floodlit National League game on Tuesday followed by another crucial Championship clash two days later.

Martin's injury means a first one-day call-up of the season for Mike Smethurst, who is named in a 12-man squad. Lancashire are also without Andy Flintoff who has been made unavailable by England even though he is in the middle of a two-week break from international duty.

But Kyle Hogg returns from England under-19s aiming to continue the form which has brought him seven wickets in his last two National League appearances - wins against Derbyshire and Hampshire which have taken Lancashire to the fringe of the promotion race.

Gloucestershire, who have beaten Lancashire in three semi finals at Bristol in recent years and enjoyed a comfortable win in the National League at Old Trafford earlier this season, remain a formidable one-day side despite the dressing room problems that have been rumbling all season, with tension between their Kiwi coach John Bracewell and several senior players.

Lancs (from): Chilton, Byas, Law, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Chapple, Hegg, Hogg, Yates, Wood, Driver, Smethurst.