SHANE WATSON reckons Hampshire fans will be in a treat if the county field their FOURTH Australian of the season on May 31.

All-rounder Watson became the third Aussie to play for Hampshire this season when he made his debut in the seven wicket defeat against Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The 22-year-old scored 23 from 32 balls at number three and was Hampshire's best bowler in his first-ever game on English soil.

But he is unavailable to play first class cricket for Hampshire this season and can only play in two more one-day games, both against Gloucestershire at Bristol (in the National League and the C&G Trophy), before he and Michael Clarke join Australia's one-day squad in Zimbabwe at the end of the month - if that tour goes ahead.

He is currently due to return for the Twenty20 Cup in July, when Warne will be playing two Tests against Sri Lanka.

But his former Tasmania teammate Michael Dighton, who makes his debut against Kent on May 31, will be playing for Hampshire in the interim - providing Watson and Clarke depart for Zimbabwe.

Watson has seen plenty of 28-year-old Dighton at the crease since leaving Queensland for Tasmania four years ago.

The pair both batted in Tasmania's top order last season, scoring more than 1,800 runs between them in the Pura Cup, Australia's equivalent of the county championship.

Dighton regularly opened the innings for the island state with Watson coming at number three.

Watson, who re-signed for Queensland last month because of homesickness, said: "Michael Dighton is a very good player.

"He's a big hitter of the ball and a big fella - about 6ft 5in - and he had a very good Australian first-class season, so the crowds will be in for plenty of fun.

"He's great fun to bat with as he can tear attacks down."

Watson added: "I would have loved to have played a bit more cricket over here - it's just the way it turned out with the Australian camp and set-up.

"I'd have loved to have been able to play some four day cricket to help Hampshire continue their great start but, hopefully, I can play well in the games I do play."

Watson's debut was a forgettable one from Hampshire's point of view - it was the county's first defeat of the season.

But he and Hampshire now have their sights set on the double header against Gloucestershire at Bristol (May 23 and 29).

"Hopefully, we can put on a better performance than we did against Lancashire," he added.

"I put a bit of pressure on myself to perform but I'm very excited to get back into cricket.

"I had two months off after the last first-class season in Australia."

Watson last played one-day cricket for Australia during the VB Series in January 2003 before picking up a back injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.