YORKSHIRE head down to Leicestershire today for a Vitality County Championship Division Two clash, hoping to be in a promotion place by Thursday evening.

They have two more games after this, away to Glamorgan and at home to Northamptonshire, so nothing will be decided down in the East Midlands this week, but the result could go a long way towards shaping the final table.

As it stands, Yorkshire are third, one point behind Middlesex and the promotion places.

The pair played out a tame draw at Headingley last time out, and with leaders Sussex thumping Derbyshire at the same time, they are now the ones on the cusp of the title.

Jonny Bairstow cracked a superb 160 in Yorkshire's high-scoring draw against Middlesex in their last fixture.Jonny Bairstow cracked a superb 160 in Yorkshire's high-scoring draw against Middlesex in their last fixture. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

If Yorkshire claim an away win this week, that will almost certainly leave the final promotion spot to be claimed by either them or Middlesex.

But if Leicestershire win on home soil, they will put themselves in the promotion picture, as they only sit 18 points behind Yorkshire as it stands.

As for team news, England international Jonny Bairstow continues to be available for Yorkshire, while the soon-to-depart Matthew Fisher is back in contention following an ankle injury which has ruled him out since May. 

Jonny Tattersall will captain Yorkshire with Shan Masood unavailable following Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh.

As things stand, Masood has only been ruled out of this game, so could be in charge for Yorkshire’s next fixture in Cardiff.