TITLE-chasing Worcestershire Royals have an injury doubt over Graeme Hick for tomorrow's Norwich Union League Division One clash against Somerset Sabres at Taunton.

The County skipper is suffering from a minor back injury which may force him to rest.

"Maybe I've been spending too much time in the middle," said Hick, who last week scored a record-breaking 315 not out in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two match against Durham at New Road.

The County are likely to return to their usual one-day line-up by playing an extra bowler with seamers Matt Mason and Stuart Lampitt recalled for league duty at the expense of Philip Weston and Alamgir Sheriyar.

Worcestershire, who have already beaten Somerset twice in one-day games this season, will be bidding to return to the top of the table after being knocked off the number one spot following last Sunday's rain-affected defeat against Durham Dynamos.

Depending on the outcome of Hick's fitness check, the County will select from: Solanki, Singh, Hick, Smith, Leatherdale, Batty, Bichel, Rhodes, Kabir Ali, Lampitt, Mason, Catterall.

Meanwhile, the weather came to Middlesex's rescue as they finished the third day of their Championship clash with Worcestershire still 123 runs short of the follow-on with five wickets intact.

Only 59.2 overs were possible on a day interrupted by rain and cut short by bad light, and the visitors will need to take 15 wickets today if they are to achieve an unlikely win.

After declaring on 502-4, the County would have hoped to make inroads into the Middlesex innings on day three, and, while they made early breakthroughs, the home side's middle-order did enough to make a draw the most likely result.

Sven Koenig hit 63, while Andy Bichel and Kabir Ali took two wickets apiece, but ultimately the weather was the only winner.

Worcestershire's scheduled Second Eleven Trophy match against Somerset at New Road yesterday was abandoned because of rain.

New Road will be the venue tomorrow for the English Cricket Board/Worcestershire Cricket Board county under 13 knock-out final between Worcester Nomads and Stourbridge (10am).