By Simon Mann Test Match Special commentator

Shane Warne's second coming should give Hampshire a lift after last season's woeful Championship showing when only Derbyshire finished below them.

Life will not be dull at the Rose Bowl with Warne around

The captaincy should keep him focused and his breathtaking comeback in Sri Lanka demonstrated that his enforced break has not diminished his powers.

The big mistake will be to think Warne can do it all on his own - bear in mind that when played for the county in 2000 his haul of 70 Championship wickets was not enough to prevent relegation from the First Division.

Warne will not be available for the whole season as Australia play series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka during the summer and will end it by competing in the Champions Trophy.

Warne's presence could be enough to keep Hampshire in contention for promotion in the Championship but this is not a vintage Hampshire side and maintaining their newly-acquired place in the First Division of the National League will also be tough.

Gaining the final promotion place was admirable in the context of their abysmal record over many years in one-day league cricket and that improvement will be severely tested.

HAMPSHIRE'S 2003 RECORD County Championship: 8th, Division Two National League: 3rd, Division Two (promoted) C&G Trophy: 3rd round Twenty20 Cup: 6th in South Group

After more than 20 years of outstanding service, Robin Smith will be missing from the Hampshire middle order.

His form in recent seasons has declined but he will still need replacing and there are no outstanding candidates.

With a few exceptions, Hampshire's batting looks ordinary.

Relieved of the captaincy, John Crawley will be expected to score heavily after a mediocre year by his standards but Derek Kenway, Will Kendall, Jimmy Adams, Nic Pothas and the newcomer from Middlesex, Michael Brown, hardly form an imposing line-up.

There will be pressure on Michael Clarke to justify his reputation as one of Australia's most promising young batsmen.

County cricket could prove to be Clarke's finishing school

Clarke replaces Simon Katich - the only player to pass 1,000 runs last season - as the club's second overseas player.

He has made an impressive start to his one-day international career, averaging 38 from 25 games, but has yet to make his Test debut.

The signing of two creaking pace-bowlers last year, Wasim Akram and Ed Giddins, was a mistake and both have since retired.

Billy Taylor's arrival from Sussex is hardly a major coup but at least he is fit and desperate for the chance of regular first-team cricket with his native county.

Hampshire's pace-bowling line-up, like their batting, does not look overly threatening. Much will depend on how Alan Mullally and Dmitri Mascarenhas come back from surgery in the winter.

Warne's presence should galvanise the squad but do not be too surprised if Hampshire are in Division Two of both leagues come the end of the season.