TOM Moody says Worcestershire will go into their match against champions Sussex at New Road tomorrow with 'a lot of confidence' despite opening their campaign with a five-wicket defeat at Kent.

The County dominated the first three days of the Frizzell Championship division one game at Canterbury, but then buckled under the weight of centuries from Matthew Walker and Michael Carberry.

New Road director of cricket Moody, however, is convinced his side can bounce back against Sussex.

He said: "They are last year's champions but we are now into a new season and we've all got new challenges like they have I'm sure. But if we take the form that we had down at Kent into the Sussex game then we go into it with a lot of confidence."

Moody admitted, however, that the final day at table-topping Kent was 'extremely frustrating'.

"But from the team's performance point of view, we completely outplayed them for more than three of the four days.

"If it wasn't for two players putting on probably their career-best performances at the same time then we could have come home victors comfortably.

"Obviously, the players were disappointed with the result having dominated the game as we did, but I think they recognise the fact that we did play some extremely good cricket for the majority of the Canterbury game."

Sussex's long wait for the title ended last season - 164 years after the club's foundation and 113 years after the official start of the Championship.

They are currently in mid-table after launching this term with a draw against Surrey at The Brit Oval and a ten-wicket defeat at the hands of Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, last night's torrential rain left its mark on the New Road ground today with flooding on the outfield near the ladies pavilion and marquee.

"We hope it will settle down during the day and hopefully it should be fine for tomorrow," said Moody, who is expected to name the same 12 that travelled to Kent for the forthcoming game.

Worcestershire (from): Peters, Moore, Hick, Smith, Solanki, Pipe, Bichel, Rhodes, Mason, Nadeem, Shaftab, Harrity.