FRANTIC preparations are taking place at Kidderminster Victoria's Chester Road in a bid to have the ground ready in time to host Worcestershire's Twenty20 Cup game with Northamptonshire Steelbacks tomorrow (5.30pm).

The match was switched from a flooded New Road earlier this week and officials from KVCC and Worcestershire have been pulling out all the stops to make the best of a difficult situation.

Although the demand to see the game is likely to put intense pressure on the Birmingham League side's infrastructure and more fans than the 2,000 capacity are set to attend, the two clubs are confident of successfully hosting the game.

Only Worcestershire members with car park passes for New Road will be able to leave their cars at Chester Road.

Other fans can use the car park next to Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough stadium, which Wyre Forest District Council has made free for the match. Closer to KVCC's ground, there is a pay-and-display car park at Kidderminster train station.

Tony Walford, Kidderminster Victoria club steward, said: "We are making the best of a bad situation. Worcestershire want to play the games and we hope people will be patient.

"Worcester are supplying a lot of the things we need to stage the games, such as portable toilets and the burger vans. They will also be providing the stewards.

"I don't think there will be many chairs available, so people will need to bring their own.

"The capacity will be around 2,000 and if more people than that arrive, they will have to be turned away.

"There will be limited parking available for around 280 cars, but there is likely to be a few traffic jams."

Sunday's Twenty20 game with Gloucestershire Gladiators is also set to be played at Chester Road, but the final home game of the competition, against Glamorgan Dragons, is scheduled to take place at Himley CC's ground, near Stourbridge.

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said: "Himley's chairman Gordon Lewis and his colleagues have really gone out of their way to help us stage this fixture.

"The ground is used by our second XI and is a good wicket. They have a new pavilion and plenty of car parking.

"There will be some seating but ticket holders and members are asked to bring their own seats and blankets."

The New Road square is still under around three feet of water but it is hoped the floods will disperse so the clear up can start early next week in time for the floodlit Pro40 match against Hampshire on Friday, July 13.

However, more heavy rain is forecast, so it may be some time before Worcestershire can host any form of cricket.

Ticket holders for all four of the County's home Twenty20 group matches can use their ticket to gain admission to any other match at New Road this season if they decide not to attend one of the group matches because of the change of venue.