Liam Dawson is set to become Hampshire's youngest debutant for 50 years.

The Swindon-born all rounder, 17, was denied a possible Championship bow at Old Trafford last week when the England and Wales Cricket Board insisted he remain on England U19 duty The one-day series against Pakistan U19 ended in a 3-1 defeat on Thursday, but Dawson is expected to play in the Hampshire Hawks' Pro40 match against the Northamptonshire Steelbacks tomorrow in the absence of Shane Warne.

If he does, he will become the youngest Hampshire debutant since Alan Wassell, another slow left-armer, made his first senior appearance for the county in June 1957, aged 17 years, 75 days.

Hampshire academy product Dawson will be 17 years, 179 days on Monday.

Hampshire manager Paul Terry confirmed: "Liam will probably play on Monday.

I think he's going to be a very good player and we're going to find out whether he's ready in the next few weeks".

Terry is yet to decide who will replace Warne as captain while Hampshire's talismnan recovers from his rib injury.

John Crawley and Nic Pothas shared the responsibilty between them at Old Trafford yesterday, but Terry said: "We're not sure where we're going to go with that at the moment but it'll be between those two".

Meanwhile, Terry remains confident that Hampshire will maintain their title challenge despite Warne's injury.

He said: "It's a tough act go to try and follow - Lancashire are a different side without Muttiah Muralitharan and Sussex are a hugely different side without Mushtaq Ahmed.

"Great players don't fall off trees but we can win without him. We've done it before and Warney's a pretty good healer and always optimistic".

Hampshire Hawks (probable): Carberry, Crawley, Lumb, Benham, Ervine, Brown, Pothas, Dawson, Udal Powell, Bruce