FAST bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Nadeem Malik are racing to be fit for Worcestershire's final Frizzell Championship clash with Essex at New Road.

Pakistani Shoaib was ruled out of the County's totesport League defeat to Essex last Sunday with a fever.

Malik played but was taken out of the attack after sustaining a slight niggle in his side.

Both will need late fitness tests for Wednesday, while fellow seamer Matt Mason continues to battle a shoulder injury.

County head coach Steve Rhodes said: "Matt's shoulder has been bothering him for a while."

Despite losing their fight for Championship promotion, Wor-cestershire will regard the four-day clash as an opportunity to pick up confidence ahead of Sunday's totesport League relegation clash with Lancashire.