Sussex face competition from Nottinghamshire in their bid to recruit South African opener Gary Kirsten as their second overseas player for next season.

Notts, who were relegated to Division Two last season, are waiting to hear from Kirsten whether he is ready to accept their offer of a one-year contract.

Sussex are also keen on the 36-year-old who has played 95 Tests for his country and scored just under 7,000 runs ahead of the series against West Indies which starts in Johannesburg on Friday.

The county champions have so far distanced themselves from speculation that they have already offered Kirsten, whose elder brother Peter played for the club's second XI in the Seventies, a one-year deal.

But Kirsten would appear to fit the ball as a high-profile, experienced batsman for a top order already boosted by the capture of Surrey opener Ian Ward on a four-year contract in October.

Sussex revealed this week that a group of sponsors will be paying for the recruitment of a second overseas player.

Director of Cricket Peter Moores also confirmed that it is unlikely that Murray Goodwin, who wants the security of a two-year deal, will be returning to Hove. Sussex have already handed Mushtaq Ahmed a two year contract and are looking for a short-term solution in the expectation that counties will only be able to register one overseas player from 2005.