Chilton has scored over 13,000 first-class runs for Lancashire

Lancashire batsman Mark Chilton is hoping limited squad numbers does not affect the Red Rose county's trophy propects this season.

The new campaign is set to begin on 8 April with Lancashire hosting Sussex.

"It's a concern if people start to get injured," Chilton told BBC Radio Lancashire. "That's the one thing we'll have to be very mindful of.

"But we have got an excellent backroom staff and we're going to have to manage that side of things very carefully."

The 34-year-old former captain, who is in his benefit year, said: "We need to be careful with the bowlers because there's more physical strain on them, and to get them through a season we'll have to be very disciplined.

We know we've got good enough cricketers in this squad to perform well and beat anybody Lancashire batsman Mark Chilton

"But even though a smaller squad comes with some risks, we're a nice tight unit with good spirit, and if we can keep people on the park we're going to compete for sure."

Lancashire have won seven County Championships and 17 one-day trophies in the club's 147-year history, although it is over 70 years since they last won the championship title outright.

Even so, Chilton believes they can be in the shake-up for silverware this season.

"We know we've got good enough cricketers in this squad to perform well and beat anybody," said the Sheffield-born cricketer.

"When you know you're capable of performing at a certain level, then it's a case of producing that day in, day out.

"We played pretty good cricket throughout last year and we were right in the hunt until late in the season.

"But we know we've got players who can bowl sides out as well as guys who can score runs in any conditions, so I think everyone's quite excited about the year to be honest."

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