MATT Mason has one main mission this season - and that's to play a major role in Worcestershire's bid to clinch promotion to the top flight in the Frizzell County Championship.

And if his determination to succeed is anything to go by then the County have every chance of climbing the ladder into the first division.

The 29-year-old paceman highlighted his desire for a successful campaign by getting into Worcestershire's Championship side at the first opportunity.

The ECB qualified Australian was not selected for the first match with Hampshire at New Road but wasted little time in earning his place in the next game against Northamptonshire.

The first opportunity he had to knock on the door for a call-up was in the County's rain-hit friendly against Oxford UCCE in The Parks in which he recorded with figures of 16-10-22-3.

In Worcestershire's next match, in the National League division one against Gloucestershire at Bristol, he took 4-35 - his best return so far in limited-over cricket.

Both performances proved successful enough to ensure that a place was available for him in the Championship game with Nor-thants.

But what did he think of having to wait for his Championship call-up? "I thought I'd probably not done quite enough in the lead-up games and Mark Harrity is obviously a quality player. He'd played ten years of first-class cricket in Australia and he also brings that left arm variety. So with the form of Kabir Ali and obviously with Nantie Hayward being Test quality, it was a hard team to fit into.

"Obviously I wanted to be playing, but I could understand for the balance of the team why perhaps I wasn't there."

He quickly grabbed the opportunity to be selected, however, and is as eager as ever to make the most of his second season at New Road.

He said: "I was pretty pleased to get into the Championship side because after last year I was very keen to do well early on.

"I missed the start of last season with a few injuries and I got here this year raring to go. To miss the first game was disappointing but I thought that all I could do was go out in the games I did play in and perform well.

It did enough to get me into the side which I was glad about."

Claimed

And now Mason has one main aim - to improve on last year when he claimed 22 Championship wickets in six games.

"I think last season was a good introduction for me to learn the type of cricket that's played here - and the amount of cricket. So, basically, the only goals I've set myself really are more fitness orientated.

"I don't like to set myself a specific number of goals because I think sometimes they can limit you. They don't always tell the true story.

"You can have a really good season with the ball but not pick up the wickets you wanted to. So as long as I'm keeping myself fit and strong in the games and I bowl well then I think I'll have had a good season."

Mason, however, is well aware that the campaign is still in its infancy and that there will be many twists and turns along the way.

"But it's been an encouraging start for me. I worked pretty hard in the off season back home in Perth. I worked on a few things in my game I thought I was a bit weak at last year.

"I came over here a little bit under done last year and I think most people are aware of that. I didn't know what to expect. Now that I do I went back to Perth with pretty much a game plan in mind. I followed it through and it's put me in good stead for this time of year anyway."

Time will tell if the County are genuine promotion candidates but Mason feels sure the squad have the right credentials.

He said: "I think we are definitely good enough for promotion. In the one-day game as a fielding side we are probably one of the best in the country. I think that is being taken into our four-day cricket.

"But with the depth of our squad now and the quality of our top six batsmen I think we are definitely one of the best sides in the country on our given day.

"I can't see any reason why we can't gain promotion. We got so close last year. We have spoken about where we could probably have turned the season around last year, but we are tougher this time and I don't think we are going to let those opportunities pass us by."

Mason has been particularly impressed by pace partner Hayward, saying: "I'd only ever watched him on television before, so to see him bowl live was a real eye opener.

"He's a very exciting cricketer and there's a lot to learn off him even though he's a few years younger than me.

"We were lucky last year to have the likes of Andy Bichel and Allan Donald with us and I couldn't wait to corner them. It's the same with Nantie. I get on well with him. I sit next to him in the dressing room, so he never far away. It's always good to pound his ear."