SHANE Warne reckons Hampshire are ready to challenge for their first county Championship title in 32 years.

Hampshire are second, six points behind reigning champions Warwickshire, after their draw against 2003 champions Sussex at the weekend.

And if it was not for the loss of 68 overs due to rain at Hove three days ago, they would probably be eight points clear at the top.

But Warne, left, believes that Hampshire still need to improve if they are to win what would be only the third championship title in the county's history.

The Hampshire captain said: "We're really close to being the best side in the competition and are one of two or three sides vying for the championship. Warwickshire and Surrey are obviously good sides and there are one or two others in the mix plus ourselves.

"To make that next step to be the best we have to nail little things.

"But I know we're close.

"We're winning more than we lose and if we can do that over a period of 16 games there's going to be some silverware at the Rose Bowl."

The key to Hampshire's chances will be the quality of the replacements for Warne and Simon Katich - and the availablity of Kevin Pietersen.

There is still no news on the locum overseas players. But Warne believes that the balance of the squad, and home advantage, can give Hampshire the chance to add to their championship triumphs of 1961 and 1973.

He added: "All the sides can probably win it but we've got the advantage of playing at the Rose Bowl, where we play bloody well because we know the conditions.

"And we've got the side to adapt, no matter what the conditions.

"When we go away and groundsmen prepare green wickets because they don't want them to spin, we've got Chris Tremlett, Richard Logan, Billy Taylor, Sean Ervine and Dimitri Mascarenhas.

"Ervine has been really good - he bowled 23 overs for only 37 against Sussex and could easily have got a five-for, and Taylor bowled 30 overs in the second innings, which was exceptional.

"But if groundsmen prepare flat wickets we've still got myself, Shaun Udal and even Simon Katich, who got us a crucial breakthrough at Sussex."

The biggest improvement in Hampshire's side has been the strength of the batting following the arrivals of Ervine, who signed for Western Australia last year but didn't play a single game for them during the winter, and England one-day ace Pietersen.

Warne added: "That middle order of Katich, John Crawley, Pietersen and Nic Pothas is pretty formidable.

"And with Ervine at seven, and Mascarenhas to come in at number eight, it's a pretty good line-up and gives us a lot of options with the ball as well."

That versatility has been backed up with two spirited Championship performances against Gloucestershire and Sussex.

"We've been behind at most stages of the first two four-day games but have managed to come out with a win and a draw so I'm very happy with our guys," added Warne

"It's encouraging when you think of where we've come from since I took over as captain last year.

"I didn't have much input in 2000, I just tried to soak it in.

"But last year I'd like to think we started playing a better, more exciting brand of cricket.

"And I would like to think we're heading in the right direction."

Hampshire's next Championship match takes place against Middlesex at the Rose Bowl, beginning on Friday May 6.