The England star's back problem needs further rest if he is to get fit for the last lap of the championship race which starts on Friday.
Lancashire stay in Nottingham after today's floodlit game and on Friday start their penultimate championship game, returning to Old Trafford next week for the final showdown with Hampshire.
Lancashire's rivals were all involved in championship action today with leaders Surrey at Durham and second-placed Leicester meeting lowly Essex at Grace Road.
Mike Watkinson, who has slipped out of the regular team, is expected to take over from Atherton tonight, and there could be other changes for a game which means little to the AXA champs.
It's the championship which counts now as Lancashire aim for a historic treble and coach Dav Whatmore said: ``There is the self belief and talent in this team to do it.''
Eight points separated the top three this morning, but bad weather is likely to affect the Leicester and Surrey games - and they then have to play each other in the final round of matches at the Oval.
But Whatmore added: ``We must not worry about what's happening to other sides. All we need is to concentrate on the job we have to do.''