Sussex coach Peter Moores has reacted cautiously to plans to treble the number of overseas players in county cricket.

Several counties are concerned that the limited availabilty of centrally contracted England players and problems in securing an overseas player for a full season are weakening the domestic game.

A delegation led by Somerset's Peter Anderson have already met ECB chief executive Tim Lamb and further discussions are expected at Lord's today at a meeting of the first class counties.

They would like to see the working party currently reviewing the structure of county cricket relax the regulations regarding overseas players.

But Moores is not convinced counties would be able to afford three overseas stars, even if they were employed on short-term contracts, and he is concerned that it would affect the development of home-grown players.

He said: "We have to be really careful if we decide to go down this route.

"I'm all for ideas which get more people watching the game and improve the product. We all want the standard of county cricket to be as high as possible, but a balance has to be struck."

The waters have been muddied in the last couple of years by the recruitment of 'flag of convenience' players, such as Sussex's South African off-spinner Mark Davis, who qualify because they have an English parent.

Moores added: "It's possible that you could end up with three overseas players and three EU passport holders which leaves you five slots for English players.

"That is not going to force counties to go out and develop their own talent even though, with the setting-up of youth academies and better coaching, the ECB are making a real commitment in that direction."

Sussex had to pay compensation to Michael Bevan when it became clear that he would not be available to fulfill the final year of his contract this summer because of Australian commitments. Instead they have recruited Murray Goodwin, who scored over 1,700 runs last season, for the next two years.

Moores added: "We could conceivably have a middle order of Michael Bevan, Michael Di Venuto and Murray Goodwin if this plan is approved, but how much are we going to see of them?

"In any case, I can't see many counties being able to afford three and how many of the best players are going to be able to commit themselves for more than seven or eight games because of international cricket."

Anderson, whose county stand to lose both Marcus Trescothick and Andy Caddick to England for much of the summer, says increasing the overseas contingent would make the county game more attractive.

"Members are being denied the opportunity to see the top players. One option we are exploring is to allow any number of overseas players on short-term contracts, providing there are eight English-qualified players on the pitch."