WORCESTERSHIRE will have a new leader tomorrow as they travel to Chelmsford.

Steve Rhodes deputises for Tom Moody as the County take on Essex in their Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash.

New Road's director of cricket will miss the opening of the clash because of his interview for the Indian national coaching job, so the man tipped to be his successor will step in.

Moody looks set to join up with his squad either late on Friday or for Saturday.

Rhodes and skipper Vikram Solanki are unlikely to have too many headaches following their convincing Championship victory over Derbyshire.

However, Zimbabwean Ray Price is pushing for a call-up after impressing in the one-day arena against Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire.

The spinner will travel with the 12-man squad and the County could yet decide on two slow bowlers with Zander de Bruyn now taking regular wickets.

Rhodes was promoted to assistant coach after hanging up the wicketkeeper's gloves last year.

With Moody now the favourite to land the Indian role, 'Bumpy' could soon be in the New Road hot-seat on a permanent basis.

Squad: Peters, Moore, Hick, Smith, Solanki, De Bruyn, Batty, Vaas, Kabir, Pipe, Mason, Price.