Even with 1,100 first-class wickets to his name Mushtaq Ahmed cheerfully admits he won't be the best leg-spinner on view at Hove over the next four days.

Mushtaq and Shane Warne cross swords for the first time in county cricket tomorrow and the battle between two world-class leggies will provide a fascinating sub-plot to the main event - Sussex's meeting with promoted Hampshire.

Throw in Kevin Pietersen's Championship debut for the visitors and the return of Billy Taylor to Hove and it's all adds up to the most keenly anticipated Sussex season-opener for years.

Surprisingly, Mushtaq has 81 more first-class victims to his name then Warne, but his international record suffers by comparison to the Australian.

It wasn't always the case. In nine months between November 1995 and August 1996 he took 45 Test wickets and was regarded as the world's best bowler, but while Mushtaq's international career is over Warne is expected to carry on until the end of the home series against England in 2007-08.

"Warney's not only the best in the world at the moment, he's the best leg spinner there has ever been," said Mushtaq.

"He produces performances every game, it's as simple as that. It's an honour to play at the same time as such a great bowler.

"We haven't seen each other for a while but I expect we will get together for a talk about leg spin. We've always had good communication with each other because I think we respect what the other has achieved."

Warne, who will play in 11 Championship games either side of his Ashes commitments this summer, promised to bring success to the Rosebowl when he took over the captaincy last season and so far he has been as good as his word.

He led Hampshire back into the top flight as second division runners-up and then masterminded a 48-run win over Gloucestershire in their opener on Saturday. Hampshire's hero was Taylor who took a career-best 6-45 in Gloucestershire's second innings before revealing that he is worried he might not hang on to his place.

The visitors are expected to play a second spinner in Shaun Udal which means either Taylor or Richard Logan, a winter recruit from Nottinghamshire, will make way.

Taylor said: "I will be as nervous as anyone ahead of the Sussex game because I always worry whether I will be selected or not."

Warne was thrilled for Taylor, who left Hove to join his native county after helping Sussex win their first Championship in 2003.

"I'm very happy for him," said Warne. "He's a workhorse and a bit of a quiet achiever and it's great to see him doing so well. His was the standout performance against Gloucestershire, but everyone contributed at certain times."

Pietersen missed the Gloucestershire game because of injury and made five on his Hampshire debut in Sunday's totesport League defeat by Essex, but he will relish taking on the Sussex attack.

In his last three Championship innings against the county he has scored 386 runs including two centuries and he averages 75.16 against the county.

Skipper Chris Adams says Sussex won't fall into the trap of paying special attention to Hampshire's big two. He said:"Hampshire are a very good unit with an attack who will do well in English conditions."