GRAEME Hick insists Vik-ram Solanki will have the full support of the dressing room as he prepares for his first season as Worcestershire skipper.

Solanki, who takes over the reins from Ben Smith, can count on the support of Hick who will have no problems taking orders from his close friend.

Hick, who is starting his 22nd season of first-class cricket, said: "Vikram is well respected in the dressing room and everyone gets on with him.

"I think the guys will support him. Vikram will naturally make the final decision -- but there will be people helping him along the way.

"I have no problem taking orders from Vikram, I respect him and vice-versa. We have been good friends over the years and I will try to help him by passing on a bit of advice. If he doesn't want it he can tell me where to go!

"There are a lot of people helping him. As a senior player I'm here to give him advice but ultimately he will make his own decisions."

Hick's England career may be a thing of the past but his enthusiasm for the county game burns as bright as ever just two months short of his 39th birthday.

And he has his sights on adding the four first-class centuries he needs to register 100 for his adopted county.

He said: "I still have got the buzz for playing and love this time of year. I hope I can get past the 100 tons for Worcestershire this summer because first and foremost it means I will have four centuries to my name this season.

"If I haven't achieved the 100 hundreds for the county in 2005 then I would be quite disappointed in my season. I didn't realise that I was that close until somebody mentioned it in the offices here. It's not something I ever really thought about. It's not something I will go out and toast but as a landmark it's another nice one to pass."

Hick, whose current contract ends at the end of the 2006 campaign, wants to replicate his form of last summer after seeing 2003 wrecked by a broken hand.

He said: "Last season I felt I was getting back to my best at times and I was pretty consistent.

"I missed out on a couple of hundreds towards the end of the season -- especially against Warwickshire at home.

"I was in the 90s and got undone by a delivery that basically rolled along the floor.

"I felt my season was good, but if I had just nailed those innings -- when I got to 50 and didn't push on -- then I would have been really pleased.

"Overall I was pleased with my form and hope it can continue on this season."