Atherton, who has been fishing since the Fifth Test defeat at Trent Bridge, is set to return in place of young Nathan Wood for the game against Derbyshire which Lancashire must win to stay in touch with the leaders.
That will be cruel on Wood who hit half centuries against Middlesex and Hampshire, and a crucial 26 in the tense victory over Warwickshire at Blackpool last week.
Atherton has scored only 70 runs in four championship innings for Lancashire since hitting a century at Leicester on May 31. But both he and John Crawley will be keen to get some form on the board before next week's Sixth Test at the Oval.
Crawley will come in for Mark Harvey which could mean disappointment for Andy Flintoff, who is available again after England Under 19 duty.
* Bacup pro James Peterson made an impressive debut for Lancashire Seconds against Sussex yesterday. Peterson took 2-45 in 21 overs and with Paul Ridgway claiming 4-32 and Gary Keedy 3-37, Sussex were all out for 190.
Nathan Wood and Mark Harvey then linked up to take Lancashire's reply to 88-2.