WORCESTERSHIRE go in search of their first LV= County Championship Division Two victory of the season when they take on Hamshire today (11am).

With the first three four-day games of the campaign away from New Road due to the on-going redevelopment work, it has been a tough start to the campaign for Steve Rhodes’ men, who have managed a draw at title-favourites Lancashire and a 10-wicket defeat against Glamorgan.

However, Rhodes insists the County head into the Ageas Bowl clash in good spirits and will be boosted by the return to fitness of seamer Richard Jones, who was set to play at Old Trafford before suffering a hamstring injury in the warm-up.

Rhodes said: “We are going to take the same 12 down to Hampshire that we took to Glamorgan, apart from Dave Lucas who will miss out and Richard will be joining the squad.

“Richard played for the seconds last week, bowled well and got five wickets in the match, so there are lots of reasons for bringing him back into the fold. He was part of the four seam bowlers we wanted to play in the first game, but he tweaked his hamstring.

“We have got that now, I think they are a good quartet and there is plenty of back-up. I’d also like to point out that Dave is unlucky to miss out. he hasn’t bowled that badly at all and he has a very good case for arguing why he’s been left out.”

Rhodes added: “I think Lancashire will be favourites for promotion and deservedly so, but Hampshire will be pushing them. They are both Test match grounds in Division Two, which is where they don’t want to be.

“It is a tough start to the season before we get back to New Road, but that will hold us in good stead because it will mean we have played some of the best teams and some hard cricket.”

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell*, Pardoe, Moeen, Samaraweera, Kervezee, Pinner, Johnson (wk), Andrew, Jones, Russell, Richardson, Choudhry.