Sussex are set to throw Ollie Robinson straight in at the deep end.

The former Yorkshire seamer is expected to make his first class debut at Durham having been handed a deal.

Sussex moved to sign Robinson after being left with only three fit frontline pace bowlers for the Championship clash at Chester-le-Street.

James Anyon and Lewis Hatchett missed the opening two games and are unlikely to be available for another month while Tymal Mills is to be rested having experienced problems with his back in the victory over Worcestershire.

Robinson was without a club having been sacked by Yorkshire for “unprofessional actions” last summer but has impressed during a trial spell at Hove, hitting a century and taking five wickets in a second team friendly against Middlesex last week.

The 21-year-old – who is the stepson of England assistant coach Paul Farbrace – was highly regarded at Headingley, where he made seven appearances in the NatWest T20 Blast last season, but Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie lost patience with his lack of professionalism.

Sussex skipper Ed Joyce said: “Ollie obviously has a chequered history but from initial impressions he seems like a good lad.

“He is from Kent so I think that was difficult for him when he was up at Yorkshire.

“He had a girlfriend down here so was going to and fro which is hard to do.

“Hopefully he’s had a wake-up call and can make the most of this second chance.

“He did really well in the second team last week and has a good chance of playing at Durham. He looks a bit more like a Steve Magoffin-type bowler who can hold his line and length so it gives us something just a bit different to the express pace we have.

“We’ve been going for between 3.5 and 4.5 runs an over which is not ideal so Ollie might be able to give us a bit more control.”

Mills pulled up twice with a back injury while bowling in Worcestershire’s first innings on Monday and did not bowl again until the final day when he was restricted to just two overs.

The 22-year-old missed a significant part of last season with a back problem and Joyce admits Sussex need to handle the left-arm paceman with care.

Joyce added: “The plan was always for Tymal to play the first two games and then not to take him to Durham as we know we have to use him sparingly.

“He is a really exciting prospect so we want to make best use of him. Even if he stays fit all summer he won’t play more than eight or nine Championship games.

“We feel he can be very important for us in white ball cricket so we want to avoid the temptation of over-bowling him in the Championship.”

Joyce will be able to welcome back Chris Nash from a hamstring injury tomorrow but Matt Prior and Mike Yardy remain sidelined as Sussex bid to end a run of three consecutive defeats at Chester-le-Street.

“We couldn’t have asked for more than two wins from two but we did the same thing last year and only came third,” added Joyce.

“With all due respect to Hampshire and Worcestershire we have played the two promoted teams so far so the big test will come this week at Durham.

“We’ve not played particularly well at Durham so we’ll be looking to do what we did at Warwickshire last year and end that hoodoo.

“Their attack suits the wicket well but we have an attack which should do well up there this year too.”