Sussex's winter-long search to find a second overseas player should be over by the end of this week.

Fast bowler Rana Naved will join the county once he finishes Pakistan's tour of the West Indies in June.

He will replace Australian Matt Nicholson who will fill in for the first seven weeks of the season.

But director of cricket Peter Moores admitted that the plan could unravel if the Pakistan Cricket Board do not agree to Rana's release for county cricket. They are hoping for a decision by the end of the week.

Rana was expected to line up in the historical first Test in Mohali today, Pakistan's first on Indian soil for six years.

They travel to West Indies in May for a series which does not finish until June 7. Rana would not be available for Championship cricket until June 15 which means Nicholson will fill in for the first six four-day matches as well as seven one-day games.

Nicholson has an impressive domestic record in Australia where he plays for New South Wales after starting his career with Western Australia.

The 6ft 6in paceman took 39 first-class wickets at an average of 30.35 and has 29 at 19 this season although he has just returned to the NSW team after nearly two months out with ankle trouble.

Both Sussex batsman Murray Goodwin, a former WA team-mate, and Dave Gilbert, the county's former chief executive who now has a similar role with the NSW Cricket Association, recommended the 30-year-old, who played one Test against England in 1998.

Nicholson is prepared to fill in at the start of the summer but he does not want to commit himself to a full season if the Rana deal falls through.

If Rana is not allowed to join Sussex, they will start their search for another overseas player all over again with the season less than five weeks away and the rest of the squad due to report back to Hove for pre-season training next Monday.

Moores said: "All the hassle we've had will be worthwhile if we can get Rana because he fits the bill for us as a quality bowler who is also useful with the bat. His agent is pushing the PCB for a decision this week.

"Matt Nicholson has never played county cricket before and is quite excited about the prospect. His record adds up and he's got a good reputation."

Moores did not rule out another move for South African firebrand Andre Nel should the Rana deal fall through, but speculation linking the county with Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, who made his Test debut last year, is wide of the mark.

Meanwhile, trialist Craig Jennings has turned down the offer of a one-month contract while Jason Voros will not be reporting back next week because the Hungarian passport which would enable him to play county cricket still has not come through.

Moores added: "If it comes through we will have another look at Jason. It's a shame for him because at a critical stage of his career he was unable to play last season, but it does create a slot for an uncapped bowler."

The county will stage an early season match for the various trialists looking for a county. A similar game unearthed Billy Taylor back in 1998.