YORKSHIRE are gearing up to face two greats, but first have a one-day hurdle to overcome.

Test stars Kevin Pietersen and Ricky Ponting will arrive at Headingley on Friday when Surrey head to the Leeds ground in the County Championship’s top flight.

However, the Tykes go into action tomorrow in the Yorkshire Bank 40 in a Group C match against Middlesex again at Headingley (1.45).

While Yorkshire have little to play for in the one-day contest, they go into the championship clash as league leaders against a Surrey side struggling in the bottom three.

Former Australia captain Ponting will look to build on a strong start to life as the Oval club’s overseas player – he has scored nearly 300 runs in three championship outings – while Pietersen looks set to return to action for the first time in three months following his recovery from a bruised right knee.

“All players want to test themselves against the best, and Ricky and Kevin are two wonderful cricketers,” said Yorkshire’s head coach Jason Gillespie.

“Our players are very excited about the chance to compete against such quality batsmen.”