Craig White has been cleared to play for Yorkshire at Old Trafford today but Test colleague Darren Gough has been refused permission to play by England boss Duncan Fletcher.

If Yorkshire can achieve the double over Lancashire it would make them overwhelming favourites to lift the Championship for the first time since 1968.

But when Yorkshire arrived at Old Trafford for some limbering up exercises yesterday they still had so many injury problems to sort out that skipper David Byas delayed naming his team.

Although White's return was welcomed, Yorkshire could also have done with Gough's assistance because Matthew Hoggard, Steven Kirby and Ryan Sidebottom have all been ruled out.

Hoggard's foot injury flared up while bowling for Yorkshire Phoenix on Sunday and he has to rest for a further two weeks, Sidebottom suffered a groin strain during the Championship match with Surrey and Kirby is rested as he needs to recharge his batteries after his sudden and dramatic introduction to first class cricket.

"Steven has played a tremendous amount of cricket over the past few weeks for someone who is entirely new to the first class game and it is not surprising that he is need of a rest," said Byas.

"The plan is to give him a few days off so he will be firing on all cylinders again when we take on Leicestershire at Grace Road next week in another extremely important match."

Byas was left hoping that Chris Silverwood would be fit to return after a back problem caused him to pull out of the last Test. Paul Hutchison was drafted into the squad as cover.

Hutchison is being released by Yorkshire and has received several approaches from other counties but he would welcome the opportunity to play.

Michael Vaughan, who is gradually recovering from a knee operation, has been given permission by England to play for Yorkshire as soon as he his fit, and he is in the squad of 14, but Byas said he was mainly there for practice purposes and it was extremely unlikely he would play.

Farsley opener Chris Taylor retains his place despite a disappointing debut against Surrey and Australian-born Andy Gray will play alongside Richard Dawson if Yorkshire opt for two spinners.

Lancashire have been refused permission to play England opener Michael Atherton and they are also reeling from news that coach Bobby Simpson - former captain and coach of Australia - has quit.

Yorkshire (from): Wood, Taylor, McGrath, Lehmann, Byas, White, Fellows, Hamilton, Blakey, Dawson, Silverwood,Hutchison, Gray, Vaughan.

Lancashire (from): Crawley, Chilton, Flintoff, Scuderi, Lloyd, Hegg, Schofield, Chapple, Martin, Smethurst, Wood, Yates, Keedy.