INTERNATIONAL duty means Hampshire will be without Aussie batsman Michael Clarke for the remainder of the season - but his departure could easily see the batting line-up strengthened.

For his replacement will be Hampshire's player of the year in 2003, Simon Katich.

With the county currently within touching distance of promotion to Division 1 of the Championship, Katich comes in to face Somerset at Taunton tomorrow, before matches at Durham, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

The left-hander top-scored in all competitions for Hampshire last summer, with more than 2,000 runs and a superb Championship average of 60.15.

Katich, who turns 29 on Saturday, just missed out on the Aussie ICC Champions Trophy squad, but the past year has seen him establish himself in the all-conquering Test team.

After leaving Hampshire last September, he was outstanding for New South Wales in Australia, scoring a team high of 896 runs at an average of 99.55.

It was enough to make him the Pura Cup player of the year for the second successive year and earn a recall to the Test team more than two years after his debut in the Ashes Tour of 2001.

Katich has gone on to play eight Tests in the past year against Zimbabwe, India and Sri Lanka, with the highlight coming in January when he made match-saving knocks of 125 and 77 not out against India in the New Year Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In all, his Test average now stands at 42, although he only managed 26 runs from four innings against Sri Lanka in the most recent series.

Hampshire manager Paul Terry said: "We are delighted that Simon has agreed to rejoin us for the remainder of the season. He was a popular member of the squad in 2003 and had a tremendous record."

Young paceman Chris Tremlett has been left out of the squad despite playing in Hampshire's National League defeat against Glamorgan. He has not played a four-day match since June and is not being rushed back from his foot injury.

Also rested is seamer Alan Mullally, although both are expected to feature in next Sunday's National League match against Northants.

Hampshire were denied victory against Glamorgan by the ninth-wicket partnership of Adrian Dale and Michael Kasprowicz in their Championship match last week, despite captain Shane Warne's second innings haul of four for 26.

But they remain on course for promotion and are currently 37 points clear of fourth-placed Yorkshire.

Hampshire (from): Warne, Katich, Crawley, Udal, Pothas, Mascarenhas, Taylor, Brown, Kenway, Adams, Bruce, Prittipaul.