As he embarks on his third year as Sussex coach, Mark Robinson must hope that one year he might enjoy a relatively untroubled pre-season.

In 2006 Robinson had the tough job of stamping his own mark on the squad he had inherited from Peter Moores.

Last year the distractions included injuries and illness to key players and the torment his star bowler Mushtaq Ahmed was suffering following the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer during the World Cup.

Robinson has endured another fraught few weeks in the build-up to Sussex's attempt to become the first county for 40 years to win the Championship three years in a row.

At one stage there was the very real possibility that they would have to do it without the talismanic Mushtaq.

The ECB only gave the leg-spinner permission to play last week although there is still some uncertainty after the Indian Board of Control decided to lodge a formal protest to their Lord's counterparts over his registration because of his involvement in the banned Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Mushtaq is due back at Hove in time for press day next Tuesday, but his arrival will be delayed if his ICL team Lahore Badshahs reach the final.

The unbeaten Badshahs play their semi today and victory would put them in a best-of-three final with the decisive game scheduled for next Wednesday.

Robinson will only believe that Mushtaq is finally here when he bowls his first delivery at the Rose Bowl in 13 days' time as Sussex start their Championship campaign against Hampshire.

At least Sussex's other ICL player, Murray Goodwin, will not be delayed after Ahmedabad Rockets were knocked out in the group stages. Goodwin's form - 27 runs in six games - is a concern though.

Now Robinson has another problem on his plate.

New fast bowler Ryan Harris arrived from Australia today but instead of playing against Gloucestershire in the two-day friendly at Hove which starts today, the 28-year-old will be preparing for a meeting with ECB officials at Lord's tomorrow.

Harris has every right to ply his trade in this country. He qualifies because his Leicester-born father has an English passport.

He could start working tomorrow, no questions asked.

In such cases, the registration of players for county cricket is normally a formality.

But the ECB have the right to call in every player who wants to play here and they have done so with Harris.

The problem for Robinson and Sussex is that they will not know the outcome until the full ECB board meet at Lord's next Wednesday - the day before Harris is expected to make his debut in the annual curtain-raiser to the domestic season against MCC.

Robinson is not anticipating any problems but after the last few weeks he is entitled to fear the worst, especially after the ECB turned down the applications of five Kolpak players a fortnight ago, including former Sussex fast bowler Johan van der Wath.

He said: "The ECB have the discretion to investigate every registration and they seem to be doing that with every new one at the moment.

"Ryan can work where he likes in this country - he could walk into Tesco tomorrow and get a job. It's frustrating but there is not a lot we can do at this stage. We don't anticipate any problems but it's not ideal that the full ECB board don't meet until next Wednesday."

Despite the distractions, Robinson believes his side will be ready when the serious action starts in less than a fortnight.

He says the ten-day pre-season trip to Dubai the best he had experienced as a player and coach and the groundstaff miraculously got the County Ground in shape to stage two one-day friendlies against Glamorgan this week, both of which Sussex won.

There are the usual injury niggles. James Kirtley is still feeling his way back five weeks after a shoulder operation and Jason Lewry, who did not go to Dubai, has been restricted to indoor practice although he is expected to get a run-out against Gloucestershire at Hove on Thursday (11am).

Luke Wright, who has been suffering from a sore shoulder, will not be allowed to bowl again until next week.

But Robinson is upbeat.

"Each day we seem to be getting better and we're definitely going in the right direction," he said.

"It's important that we peak on the 16th not now but overall I'm happy with our progress and we still have another 13 days to prepare."

In the past two years Sussex overcame the distractions of a disrupted pre-season to win three trophies including two Championships.

Robinson will gladly put up with all the hassles if he's celebrating again in September.