Carl Hopkinson jumps from Sussex's second team to facing the fastest bowler in world cricket tonight.

The 21-year-old will open the batting for the Sharks in the National League division two day-nighter at Hove (4.10pm).

And that will mean a duel with Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistani who bowled the first 100mph delivery during the World Cup earlier this year.

Sussex have turned to in-form Hopkinson after the experiment of opening with Matt Prior failed.

Prior made two noughts and one in three outings at the top of the innings and will drop down to the middle order.

Hopkinson has already reeled off three second team hundreds this season and skipper Chris Adams says he deserves his chance.

Adams said: "Carl has been pushing for a while and he deserves this opportunity, but we are not going to find out too much about him at seven or eight, he might as well have this chance to show us what he's got."

Jason Lewry will today get the results of a scan on the rib injury he suffered a week ago while James Kirtley, who has linked-up with the England squad preparing for the first Test, is also absent.

That means Paul Hutchison and Billy Taylor will share the new ball and both will be anxious to impress.

A spot in the side which resumes the bid for a first Championship title against Nottinghamshire on Friday is up for grabs if the prognosis on Lewry is not favourable or Kirtley makes his Test debut at Edgbaston.

The temptation must have been to rest key players ahead of the trip to Trent Bridge, but Adams wants his side to find some consistent one-day form.

"Apart from James and Jason this is our best one-day team. Hoppo is the only one who hasn't really played and he has forced his way in on the strength of his second team performances," he added.

"There is a lot to play for, not least the opportunity to face quality bowling such as Shoaib."

Gates open at 2pm and Sussex are laying on family entertainment.

Sussex (from): Hopkinson, Goodwin, Cottey, Adams, Martin-Jenkins, Ambrose, Prior, Innes, Davis, Ahmed, Hutchison, Taylor, Zuiderent.