MARTIN LOVE will provide the biggest obstacle to Hampshire's hopes of a first totesport League victory of the season tomorrow.

The Queenslander is the undoubted batting star of the Northants side, boasting a sensational run of first-class scores.

Love has only played four Championship games for the Midlanders - two in 2004 and two this season - but has scores of 51 & 49no (v Surrey), 133no & 161no (v Worcester), 50 & 112no (v Leics) and 168 (v Derbyshire) to his name.

In addition, Love ended the Australian domestic campaign with a century in the Pura Cup final defeat to New South Wales.

But Hampshire know all about Love - in August 2003, while playing for Durham, he compiled 273 in an innings win against John Crawley's men!

That huge knock came just a few weeks after his last Test innings for Australia - an unbeaten 100 against Bangladesh. Despite reaching his maiden international century, Love has not played for his country since.

The 31-year-old made his Test debut in the 2002/03 Ashes series after hammering two double centuries against Nasser Hussain's tourists - one while playing for Queensland and one for Australia A.

However, Love has only scored 36 runs in two totesport League games in 2005 and Lawrie Prittipaul dismissed him for 19 when Northants triumphed in the totesport at the Rose Bowl last year.

Northants are expected to name the same XI on duty in the Championship match which started against Derbyshire on Wednesday.

Northants: Love, Shafayat, Afzaal, Sales, White, Brophy, Wright, Phillips, Louw, Jones, Brown.