SEAMER Matt Mason plays his first Twenty20 game at Warwickshire today after recovering from back trouble (5.30pm).

Australian Mason steps in for overseas star Shoaib Akhtar --one of two changes made by Worcestershire Royals as they aim to resurrect their hopes of a quarter-final place after three straight defeats.

Nadeem Malik also steps in to replace England one-day international Kabir Ali.

Shoaib, who made his competitive debut in the New Road defeat to Northamptonshire on Monday, is rested but likely to return against Gloucestershire tomorrow.

Head coach Steve Rhodes said: "Obviously, we are keen to bring on Shoaib's match fitness and we don't want to play him in back-to-back games. The theory is that we can give the Worcestershire public something to enjoy by playing him in our home Twenty20 matches."

Squad: Moore, Hick, Batty, Smith, de Bruyn, Leatherdale, Peters, Pipe, Mason, Malik, Mitchell. 12th man: Wigley.