DIMITRI Mascarenhas will play his first game of the season against Cardiff UCCE at the Rose Bowl tomorrow - but he may not be fit to bowl.

All-rounder Mascarenhas has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the season began a fortnight ago.

He will make his comeback tomorrow, with a view to returning to first-class action when Hampshire play their third championship match - against Middlesex at the Rose Bowl in ten days' time.

Mascarenhas, Hampshire's Player of the Year, took 56 wickets at 18.67 as the club won promotion to the championship's first division last year.

And manager Paul Terry, who has named a squad of 12 for the three-day friendly against Cardiff UCCE, is keen to get him back.

He said: "Dimi will play this week but we're not entirely sure whether he'll be able to bowl. Hopefully he will. physio Paddy Farhart has used his magic to get him fit to play in this game as a batter and he's improving day by day.

"He's a matchwinner so we want him back as quickly as possible but we don't want to risk him."

Terry believes that the totesport National League double-header at Northants on Sunday, and against Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl on Bank Holiday Monday, may be too soon for Mascarenhas.

But he may be eased back into action when Hampshire take on Shropshire in the C & G Trophy at Whitchurch a week tomorrow.

Mascarenhas is not Hampshire's only injury concern. Former Cardiff UCCE bowler James Tomlinson is still struggling with a side injury.

But with Shaun Udal and Michael Brown the only players in the squad to have played in the draw against Sussex, Terry wants the second team to show what they can do.

Terry added: "This game is a good opportunity for some of the fringe players to score runs and take wickets. The first-team guys have started well but it's good to know that we have good players in the background."

HAMPSHIRE (from): Brown, Kenway, McLean, Benham, Lamb, Prittipaul, Mascarenhas, Burrows, Udal, Bruce, Logan Latouf.