WORCESTERSHIRE today revealed their itinerary for the pre-season tour of South Africa they have arranged as part of their plans for a promotion push in the Frizzell County Cricket Championhip.

The players report back to New Road on Monday and will be leaving almost immediately for South Africa where four matches are scheduled.

The tour is designed to step up the County's 'warm-up' programme which has already been underway for some time.

New Road director of cricket Tom Moody said: "The pre-season has been successful with fitness trainer Dave Lowe bringing our players to peak fitness. The tour is a great opportunity for us to prepare as a squad in an ideal climate.

"It will not only allow the players to continue to prepare themselves physically, but it will also allow us to play four games and get to know our overseas signings, all of which should put us in good stead for the up-coming season."

The County's opposition will all be Invitation Xls, including first-class provincial players.

The New Road squad will arrive in Johannesburg next Tuesday and then travel Polokwane, Pietersburg, where they will stay until Friday.

Practice sessions are planned there with a match scheduled for Thursday, March 27.

From Friday, March 28, to the following Monday, March 31, they will stay in Duivelskloof where another match will be staged on the Saturday. The party will then move to Phalaborwa with a night drive in the Kruger National Park planned for Tuesday, April 1. The following day there will be another match.

The players will return to stay in Duivelskloof where the final match will be staged on Friday, April 4.

There will also be coaching sessions with local youngsters on April 5 with the players arriving back in the UK on Monday, April 7.

Further 'warm-up' matches have been arranged against Sussex on April 9 and 10, both at Hove, followed by squad games at New Road on April 13 and Ombersley, April 16.

Worcestershire's opening Championship match at home to Hampshire starts on Friday, April 18.