STEVE Rhodes will miss his first match through injury for 10 years when promotion-chasing Worcestershire Royals meet Glamorgan Dragons in a Norwich Union League Division Two clash at Cardiff tomorrow.

The long-serving wicketkeeper is ruled out because of a torn calf muscle.

The last time that he was sidelined through injury was in May 1991 when groin trouble forced him to miss two Sunday League games.

Since then he has been able to keep a clean bill of health to play in more than 350 matches in all competitions for the County.

Rhodes' current injury puts his place in jeopardy for Wednesday's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy third round tie at Hertfordshire. His next appearance, at the earliest, could be in the County Championship Division Two match against Nottinghamshire which opens at New Road next Friday.

James Pipe, who played in this week's first class friendly with Durham University, will fill the 'keeper's role tomorrow.

Worcestershire will make one other change from last Sunday's thrilling 10-run win over Lancashire at New Road with Philip Weston coming in for Paul Pollard.

Worcestershire go into tomorrow's match two points behind table-topping Durham Dynamos.

Glamorgan are in third place four points adrift of skipper Graeme Hick's men who have played one more match.

New Road Director of Cricket, Tom Moody, however, believes it is far too early to start talking about possible promotion success.

He said: "It's early doors. We are playing some good cricket in the league but we were in a similar position last year and ended up out of the back door.

"There is no room for complacency and every game is critical to us. The team is certainly aware of that, and they are obviously enjoying the way that things are coming together."

Worcestershire: Singh, Weston, Hick, Solanki, Leatherdale, Bichel, Pipe, Lampitt, Kabir Ali, Rawnsley, Sheriyar. 12th man: Liptrot.