Lancashire stand on the brink of history in their match against Hampshire, when victory could clinch their first title since 1950 and a first outright championship since 1934.
And they are hoping to go into the game at full strength with both Atherton and Peter Martin winning their battles against back injuries.
Atherton has not played since the NatWest final, and has only made seven championship appearances all season because of a combination of his back problems and his England commitments.
In those games, he has scored less than 400 runs, almost half of them in a single innings of 152 against Kent at Canterbury in May.
But he is a proven big match player who would love to be part of a Lancashire championship success and coach Dav Whatmore expects him to replace Mark Chilton at the top of the order.
``Athers went to see a specialist last week. He has been getting better and I feel he will play,'' said Whatmore.
Martin also suffered a back spasm in the victory over Notts at Trent Bridge last weekend, but Whatmore is confident that he will also be fit to take his part in Lancashire's strong seam attack.
Lancashire do not have matters in their own hands. First, they must beat Hampshire, preferably with maximum bonus points - for which they will need decent weather over the next four days. Even then, they cannot afford for Leicestershire to beat Surrey at The Oval - that would see Leicester crowned champions, with Lancashire second. If Surrey win, Lancashire need to take two more points than the Londoners to share the championship with then, exactly as they did in 1950.
If it's a draw, or Surrey win with three less points than Lancashire, then the championship pennant will fly over Old Trafford next season. ``I'm very very proud to be associated with these lads, who have had such a fabulous season,'' said chairman Jack Simmons. ``If we could win the championship as well, it would be fantastic.''
The match should bring a big turnout of Lancashire greats, many of whom never managed to take the championship.
Simmons will be joined by Clive Lloyd in the committee room as well as club president Brian Stathan, who made his debut in Lancashire's last championship season of 1950.
England coach David Lloyd, who took Lancashire close in 1995, is also expected to pop in. But one former player and committee man who won't be there is Paul Allott - who is required by Sky for their full live coverage of the Surrey-Leicestershire match.
Meanwhile Andy Flintoff last night received his second award of the season when he was named Young Player of the Year by the Professional Cricketers' Association. Flintoff had already won a similar vote by the Cricket Writers Club. Northants batsman Mal Loye was voted the PCA's Cricketer of the Year.
Former Lancashire coach Alan Ormrod was sacked as manager of Nottinghamshire yesterday.
Ormrod has been working at Trent Bridge for five years since leaving Lancashire, and earlier this month he appointed Jason Gallian as his new captain, but last Sunday's crushing defeat by his former county was the final straw after a second consecutive poor season.