Gerard Brophy is a major doubt and Tim Bresnan is out of Yorkshire's meeting with Lancashire at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Both suffered during Saturday's final day of the County Championship draw against Hampshire at Headingley, Brophy a bruised right thumb and Bresnan a tight right calf.

Brophy had a fitness test yesterday, and will be reassessed again today, while Bresnan, who had a scan yesterday, won't be risked with England's Test series against Sri Lanka on the horizon.

Despite Bresnan being an England player and in form, the loss of wicketkeeper Brophy will cause Yorkshire more problems seen as Jonny Bairstow is on England Lions duty and they have no other viable cover.

His absence would force Martyn Moxon and Andrew Gale into looking at a loan signing or a wicketkeeper who is currently out of county cricket.

Josh Knappett is one possible target - the 26 year-old ex-Worcestershire man has been playing 40-over cricket for the ECB Unicorns, a team of players looking for professional deals.

Another option would be to call upon the likes of former keepers Greg Wood or Simon Guy, both currently playing local league cricket. Guy is impressing for Marske in the NYSD and hit 95 from 68 balls at the weekend.

It is far from the ideal preparation for the White Rose county ahead of a meeting with the Division One pacesetters, who have won three out of their first four matches, including both at Liverpool's Aigburth ground.

But captain Gale is still confident that his team can rise to the challenge.

He said: "I feel like we're in decent form, although the results don't quite suggest that. We've played some good cricket.

"Roses games are always special, especially in the Championship - it's the first fixture you look for when the list comes out. We're all really excited about the match."

Lancashire will be strengthened by the inclusion of Jimmy Anderson at a ground which has provided a result in the last seven fixtures played there.

Gale added: "At the moment, they are one of the teams to beat. But the Championship's wide open.

"If we win a couple of matches, we'll be right up at the top. Everyone's beating everyone bar maybe Hampshire and Worcester. I've never played at Liverpool, but it's an opportunity for us to get another win."

Gary Ballance will slot into the middle order for his first appearance of the season with Bairstow unavailable.