WORCESTERSHIRE'S Twenty20 Cup demise is set to spark a ticket-rush as Australia seem guaranteed to grace New Road later this month.

The Royals' dismal nine-wicket defeat to Gloucestershire on Saturday may have spelt their almost inevitable exit from the competition, but it brings together a mouth-watering and money-spinning clash with Ricky Ponting's Aussies.

The three-day tourist match will start on Saturday, July 30, on the back of the First Ashes Test, unless the County stage an incredible comeback from Twenty20 oblivion.

To qualify for the quarter-final stage, Worcestershire must first canter to victory in their final two games, today at Northamptonshire and tomorrow's home fixture with Glamorgan.

Results elsewhere in the Midlands/West/Wales division must also go in their favour, while a drastic improvement in run-rate is required.

The odds are heavily stacked against Steve Rhodes' men completing a remarkable recovery.

County chief executive Mark Newton admits that supporters have already made on-line bookings for the Australian clash, with 2,500 non-member seats being made available for each day.

However, Newton insists the priority was to win the competition.

"We want to progress and win any domestic competition," admits Newton. "That has always been our priority.

"We've been put in a very fortunate position that if we were not to qualify for the final day of the Twenty20, then we would play Australia. It was a win-win situation.

"Commercially, of course, it is to our advantage. It is the upshot of being knocked out of the Twenty20.

"But we have to wait until it is impossible for us to qualify for the quarter-finals before we make an official announcement that the match is on.

"We have already been selling tickets on-line for the game and a lot of people have purchased tickets. We expect quite a rush and we have made 2,500 tickets per day available in advance for the public. Members are entitled to attend each day.

"But we are not processing the applications until we know one way or another."

It has been a long-standing tradition for Australia to face Worcestershire at the County Ground during their Ashes' tours of England.

Former County overseas star Glenn McGrath will make his return with the rest of the Australian squad, regarded by many as the most formidable in history.

Newton added: "They are arguably the best team in history that have ever played cricket. To have a team of that calibre coming to Worcestershire is something we should treasure. It's just fantastic to have them."