Injuries and fatigue are threatening to undermine Sussex's challenge for their first Championship.

Of the three counties in with a realistic chance of winning the title, Sussex have the best current form with four wins and two draws from their last six matches.

In theory they should be the side most looking forward to the run-in.

But skipper Chris Adams admits that this week's break from four-day action couldn't have come at a more opportune time.

Adams himself had an injection yesterday and will need intensive treatment in the next week after succumbing to tennis elbow.

Tony Cottey missed most of the 2001 season with a similar injury and the captain is anxious to nip the problem in the bud, hence his absence from Tuesday's National League match against Hampshire and tomorrow's Zone6 City Challenge bunfight at Hove where he was due to lead the Brighton team.

He is not the only one forming an orderly queue outside the physio's room.

Tim Ambrose is having treatment on the knee he twisted over a fortnight ago while Mushtaq Ahmed has a stiff lower back which is hardly surprising given the fact that he has now bowled 700 overs in all competitions this season.

His incapacity was one of the reasons why Sussex delayed their declaration against Surrey at Hove on Saturday. "Mushy bowled every ball on Saturday without using his lower back muscles," revealed Adams.

Jason Lewry will be out for at least another fortnight with the rib muscle injury he suffered three weeks ago at Leicester while Kevin Innes is still under treatment for a pelvic injury. Adams admits that most of the other players are carrying minor niggles.

"People think it's a foregone conclusion that we will challenge for the title between now and the rest of the season but for that to happen we have to stay fit," said Adams.

"We're in the lap of the Gods a bit at the moment. With our best side out, we will give everyone a game as we proved last week against Surrey.

"Believe me, they were rattled when we had them 126-6. It was only because they are such a good team that they dug themselves out of trouble.

"But a lot of our guys are feeling fatigued simply because of the amount of cricket that we have played, that happens at this stage of the season whether you are near the top or fighting relegation."

Sussex's decision to employ just 18 professionals this season was always going to be a gamble and, in light of the fact that nearly a third of them are currently under treatment for one injury or another, it may be a decision they come to regret.

Ambrose, Adams and Mushtaq should all be available for the visit of third-placed Lancashire next Thursday, but England's pummelling by the South Africans and the subsequent retirement of Darren Gough have increased the liklihood that James Kirtley will win his first cap when the third Test starts at Trent Bridge on the same day.

Certainly, if the selectors are looking for a like-for-like replacement for Gough then Kirtley, with his skiddy pace, is the man. After being omitted from the final 12 for the last three Tests he certainly deserves an opportunity and there can't be too many bowlers above him in the pecking order after the shambles at Lord's at the weekend.

Everyone at Hove will share Kirtley's joy if he gets his opportunity, but it will leave Paul Hutchison and Billy Taylor, who began the season opening the bowling in the second team, carrying the attack to a Lancashire side who still fancy their chances of closing the gap on the top two.

The mantra from Adams remains the same as it has since Sussex won at Tunbridge Wells in mid-June and began their unlikely challenge for Championship glory.

They are taking it session by session, game by game and, if on Saturday September 20 the pennant is fluttering over the County Ground for the first time then no one will say Sussex haven't deserved it.

Adams added: "Before the Notts game a fortnight ago I told the lads to concentrate on winning two more matches. We've had back-to-back draws which equates to one win. Only when we win another game will we re-assess our goals for the rest of the season.

"We're just going to keep chipping away, taking it session by session and just try to enjoy ourselves."