Shaun Udal reckons Dominic Thornely is the ideal overseas signing.

Thornely and Michael Carberry will make their home debuts at four and five for Hampshire against Sussex at The Rose Bowl tomorrow.

Australian Thornely scored 31 during the rain-affected championship draw against Lancashire and pulled his first ball in one-day cricket for Hampshire for six against Ireland on Sunday.

He has 2,310 runs from 33 first class matches at 46.20.

But it is with the ball that the New South Wales player has really pleased Udal - despite a moderate record of ten wickets at 67.90.

A groin strain prevented Thornely from bowling his medium pace in the C & G Trophy South Division win against Ireland in Dublin, but he took 1-11 from five overs against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Udal, captain in the absence of Shane Warne, said: "At 27, Dom is very keen to make sure he gets some big scores for us.

"He's got a point to prove to the Australian selectors so he's a very good signing, he's the right man for us.

"He's already looked really good, he's a level headed character, his batting looks solid and he's a particularly good player of spin.

"But he has more to offer than runs with the bat. He is excellent in the field as well, he's got great hands and is quick across the ground.

"And I was pleasantly surprised by the way he bowled at Old Trafford.

"We'd heard reports that his bowling might not be as good as we hoped but it was better than we thought, which was a bonus because it gives us an extra dimension."

Left-hander Carberry, who scored 30 on his Hampshire debut at Old Trafford, signed from Kent six months ago and is set to continue at number five against Sussex.

Udal continued: "We realise our batting let us down last year but Michael has a first class average of nearly 40 over more than 30 matches.

"He uses his feet excellently, he's very good at going either forward or back and having him in the side also puts pressure on our two openers because he can bat at the top of the order as well."

England fast bowler Chris Tremlett has reacted well to his first bowl of the season against Ireland, but will undergo a fitness test on his knee tomorrow morning.

Udal said: "We don't want to rush Chris too early, it's hard to be 100 per cent certain that he's okay.

"it's a long season so it'll be a Wednesday morning decision."

Richard Logan, whose only over against Ireland occupied 12 balls and cost 16 runs, stands by to replace Tremlett.

That means no place in the squad for former Sussex bowler Billy Taylor.

Hampshire (from): Brown, Adams, Crawley, Thornely, Carberry, Pothas, Ervine, Mascarenhas, Udal, Tremlett, Bruce, Logan.