WORCESTERSHIRE Royals hope to have Andy Bichel off the casualty list in time for tomorrow's opening Norwich Union League Division One clash against Somerset Sabres at New Road.

The Australian pace star is battling to overcome a hamstring tweak which he sustained while bowling in the current home Frizzell County Championship Division Two match with Essex. He took no part in yesterday's rain-hit action.

The County's Director of Cricket Tom Moody said: "Andy hasn't torn a muscle he has just got a spasm in his hamstring which we are settling down now, so it should only be 24 hours.

"He certainly knew there was and problem and if he had decided to keep on bowling it would have been a full-on tear, so that could have been a few weeks out.

"But he's done the right thing and we just need to get him back fit and ready for tomorrow."

The County, however, will be without opening batsman Stephen Peters for a month with a broken thumb which he suffered while taking a catch against his former club Essex on Thursday.

Moody said: "He's had a great start to the season. It was a new club and a lot of pressure on him I suppose early doors. He coped well with it and played well.

"It's just a shame from his and the team's point of view that he's going to be missing now for a month when he's in such a good patch of form.

"We are going to have to call on our strength in depth and it's going to be a great chance for those guys that get their opportunity to stand up and perform.

"That's what we want. We want them to perform and make it hard for the guys when they recover their fitness to make their way back into the side."

Moody is keen for the County to launch their league campaign on a winning note after being promoted last term.

He said: "We had a good season in the league last year and we plan to continue that. We are looking forward to playing the top teams in the country.

"We feel we are a good one-day side now. We have got some new stock in our squad and strength in depth and we hope we can continue our Benson and Hedges Cup form into the Norwich Union League.

"It's important to be in the top division from a players and club's points of view in both the competitions.

"We are a club that is striving hard to be successful and I know the players are very keen to play against the cream of the clubs."

Worcs (from): Singh, Solanki, Hick, Smith, Leatherdale, Batty, Bichel, Lampitt, Kabir Ali, Rhodes, Rawnsley, Sheriyar.