Rana Naved is back and ready to lead Sussex's bid for a second Championship in four seasons.

The Pakistan fast bowler has already played a huge part in getting the county into a position where victory over Nottinghamshire next week should be enough to bring the title back to Hove.

He took 34 wickets at 15.29 in five games to top the national averages before injuring his groin in what was already planned to be his final match against Middlesex at the end of May before he joined up with Pakistan for their tour of England.

Rana flew home fearing he would need surgery but was told instead to rest before returning for the one-day series last month.

He kept in touch with Sussex's progress and was in regular contact with coach Mark Robinson when the county won the C&G Trophy at Lord's last month.

The 28-year-old played in all five ODIs against England but his four wickets, all taken in the same game at the Rose Bowl last week, came at an expensive 55 runs apiece.

Sussex desperately need their main man fit and firing as they try to complete a treble of domestic honours.

They go to Trent Bridge on Sunday with a chance of beating Essex to the Pro40 League title before they take on Nottinghamshire in the final Championship match next Wednesday.

Rana said: "I'm really pleased to be back with the Sussex boys again.

"I feel very good. I have had some more practice this week and I'm fully fit.

"It was very difficult coming straight back from injury into the one-day series because I lacked match practice but I'm getting stronger all the time and I'm looking forward to the last week of the season and helping Sussex to win more trophies."

Mike Yardy, who played against his county team-mate while making his England debut last week, is confident Rana will come good.

Yardy said: "He hasn't played since June and he didn't bowl as well as he would have liked but he has got an awesome record and I know the England guys, especially those who have batted against him in county cricket, have an awful lot of respect for him.

"He's a quality international performer and from what I have seen there isn't too much to worry about. You just have to look at his stats to know what he is capable of.

"He has been looking forward to coming back and playing for Sussex, especially with so much resting on the last two games. He's one of us now, just like Yasir Arafat was, and I'm sure he will perform up at Trent Bridge."

Both Rana and Yardy were going to be rested for last night's final game of the season at Hove but the rest of their team-mates did not get onto the pitch either.

The Four County Twenty20 Cup tie against Glamorgan was washed out after heavy rain arrived 20 minutes before the scheduled start.

Sussex were due to give a first-team debut to Academy wicketkeeper Ben Brown while left-arm spinner Jeremy Green was in line for his first first-team appearance since 2002.

But with only a few hundred spectators in the ground, the match was abandoned at 8pm. Third and fourth place will now be decided when the sides meet again in Cardiff tomorrow (7pm).

Meanwhile, Ollie Rayner has shown he is in good nick should he be called up for either of the key remaining games.

Rayner smashed an explosive 93 and then took 3-57 in 13 overs to put title-chasing Sussex 2nd XI into a strong position going into the last day of their final match of the season against Worcestershire.

Sussex, replying to Worcestershire's 308-8 declared, called a halt to their innings only five behind for the loss of five wickets before reducing the hosts to 187-6 at Barnt Green.

Rayner faced only 67 balls and fired 14 fours and a six, sharing in a fifth-wicket stand of 154 with Andrew Hodd (67 not out) before Sussex's declaration.

Hodd cracked 13 boundaries in his 72-ball knock and Sean Heather made 80 with 11 fours and a six from 94 balls.

Heather, whose brilliant unbeaten 171, gave Sussex their fourth win in six games in their previous match against Essex, figured in valuable half-century partnerships with both Zoheb Sharif (34) and Michael Thornley (15).

Worcestershire were soon made to struggle when they batted for a second time and were indebted to Will Gifford, whose attacking 93 included 11 fours and four sixes.

Sussex, unbeaten this season, batted smoothly to raise 150 in 75 minutes and their innings spanned 58.5 overs after Worcestershire chose to declare on their overnight score.