Sussex have been urged to go on the offensive ahead of their final home match of the season today.

Ed Joyce’s men take on Lancashire at Hove knowing that a draw would virtually guarantee their place in division one of the Championship next season and condemn Lancashire to relegation.

You could forgive Sussex if they played conservatively to avoid defeat which would drag them back into the scrap at the foot of the table and give Lancashire fresh hope.

But coach Mark Robinson wants his players to look up the table rather than down and believes that positive mindset will give them the best chance of success this week.

Robinson said: “We can come third or fourth if we do really well in our last three games but if it goes badly we are aware that we could get ourselves into trouble.

“We went to Scarborough in the same situation knowing that a win would have put us right up there and nothing has changed really.

“If we win this week we will go to Trent Bridge next week looking at the possibility of a top four finish and you’ve got to look at it that way and try to win.

“Only if things don’t go as well as you hoped and that is not possible anymore do you start thinking about not losing the game.”

Sussex’s aggressive outlook has been enhanced by the fact they will be able to field arguably their strongest team of the season, even though they will not be able to call on James Tredwell who they were hoping to have back on loan from Kent.

Robinson said: “He has gone back (to Kent). He is their player and the loan system says a parent club has the right to take back a play if they have injuries.”

Chris Jordan has been made available by England for the next two games and Mike Yardy is fit following a three month spell on the sidelines through injury.

That is offset slightly by the fact Lancashire will be able to call on England duo James Anderson and Jos Buttler as they target the win they need to keep their survival hopes alive.