Shane Warne will be back - maybe as soon as next week - to lead Hampshire in their quest to stay in the hunt for the County Championship title.

Warne feared his season was over after scans last week indicated he had a broken rib - but following a fresh MRI check on the injury, it has been downgraded to a muscle tear.

While Hampshire were enduring a tough day on the field - following on against Surrey, they closed on 121 for three at the Rose Bowl - they had a significantly better one off it.

Club physio Andrew Nealon reported that the initial diagnosis, and prognosis, had been revised for Warne.

The master leg-spinner suffered discomfort while bowling against Lancashire at Old Trafford last week, but it seems he did not do himself as much damage as first thought.

''Shane Warne had a repeat MRI scan, which indicates a muscle tear adjacent to his rib - which appears to be more consistent with what happened,'' said Nealon.

Hampshire, led by Nic Pothas, subsided in their regular captain's absence - despite 110 from Jimmy Adams - as they mustered only 221 in reply to 556, leg-spinner Chris Schofield taking his first five-wicket haul in the championship since 1999.

Warne, meanwhile, is expected to be back to resuscitate Hampshire in the title run-in.

''He is making good progress and will definitely be back playing this season,'' added Nealon.

''He has an outside chance of playing against Worcestershire at Kidderminster next week - and is very confident of appearing against Kent (in the penultimate round of matches on September 11).'' Nealon had maintained all along that Warne had a chance of returning this summer - even when it was believed his injury was more serious.

''Shane has played with many injuries over a long career, and if anybody can possibly play through the pain it's him,'' he said last week.

''The rest of our season is a pretty congested calendar. We have got four games to go - and if it is humanly possible then he will be on the field before the end of the season.

''We will be doing all that we can to help that process.'' Hampshire's first-team manager Paul Terry expressed similar sentiments when he said: ''He is a pretty good healer, and I would be surprised if we didn't see him again this season. He is always optimistic.'' Don't miss Monday Sport for full coverage of Hampshire v Surrey.