Steve Kirby will replace the injured Matthew Hoggard in Yorkshire Phoenix's Twenty20 Cup line-up against Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge this evening.

And Yorkshire were making inquiries today to see if Anthony McGrath would be able to return to the side now that England are out of the NatWest Series.

Although Yorkshire would feel much more comfortable with Hoggard in the team, they are just relieved that his knee injury is not as serious as first thought and that he should be bowling again within a few days.

The T&A reported exclusively yesterday that Hoggard had only jarred his knee joints and had not damaged the ligaments or muscles.

He remains in MCC's side to play the West Indies at Arundel in a three-day match starting on Tuesday and there seems little doubt that he will be fully recovered for Yorkshire's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final match against Gloucestershire at Bristol in ten days' time.

Kirby, who has not been in top form so far this season, must move up a gear if he is to emulate Hoggard, who played a big part in Yorkshire's opening Twenty20 win at Derby last week when he captured three wickets and also scored the winning run off the last ball of a thrilling contest.

The only away defeat that Yorkshire have suffered in any competition this season was against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on May 2 when they were hammered by 104 runs in the totesport League.

Since then, however, they have pulled themselves together and a win over Notts today would give them a great chance of reaching the Twenty20 quarter-finals. Two of their three remaining group fixtures are at home, the first one being against Leicestershire at Headingley tomorrow (5.30pm).

Once again Twenty20 cricket is proving a big success and Durham Dynamos report that only a few tickets remain to be sold for their home match with Yorkshire a week tomorrow.

Yorkshire fans are advised to buy their tickets in advance because the 'sold out' signs are likely to be up on the day.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Nottinghamshire Outlaws) from: Wood, Gale, Taylor, McGrath, Jaques, Lumb, Craven, Gray, Bresnan, Dawood, Silverwood, Dawson, Kirby.