Strike bowler Chris Silverwood has overcome an injury scare and turns out today for Yorkshire in their three-day curtain-raiser against the Bradford-Leeds Universities' Centre of Excellence at Headingley.

But Yorkshire go into the match without five of their other leading players - Darren Gough, Craig White and Anthony McGrath all nursing injuries and Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard being forbidden to play by England.

Silverwood last week bruised his knee when he took a tumble in the nets at Riverside as Yorkshire warmed up for their two-day friendly with Durham and the injury was bad enough to prevent him bowling for over a week.

He had a precautionary X-ray on Wednesday and was later able to declare himself fit after a workout at Headingley.

Yorkshire are aware that with Gough, Hoggard and White all likely to be missing on England duty for much of the season they will need Silverwood to be at his sharpest if they are to make a serious attempt at retaining the County Championship.

He remains one of their most destructive bowlers when on top form and at 27 he is still capable of winning back his England place with a string of good performances at county level.

Gough, recovering from a cartilage operation, and White (groin) are now expected to miss the first fortnight but the likelihood is that McGrath will be given the chance to see if he has got over his groin problems in the opening Second XI Championship clash with Durham Seconds at Riverside next Wednesday. Scott Richardson has won his battle with rival Chris Taylor to open alongside Matthew Wood in today's match but Taylor still gets a place in the side at No 4.

Darren Lehmann flew in from Australia yesterday and although he is not playing against the Universities' side he will be ready to lead the County Champions into battle in the tough encounter with Surrey at Headingley next Wednesday.

Senior professional Richard Blakey captains Yorkshire in Lehmann's absence and he will have one of England's winter tourists in the side in off-spinner Richard Dawson who is officially on leave but has made a special request to play.

The Universities' side were severely beaten by Leicestershire at Grace Road last weekend but they realise that playing against county opposition is all part of the students' learning curve.

Yorkshire: Wood, Richardson, Lumb, Taylor, Fellows, Hamilton, Blakey, Dawson, Silverwood, Sidebottom, Kirby.