WORCESTERSHIRE have been hit by a double blow for their LVCC Division Two match with Leicestershire at New Road tomorrow (11am).

Veteran batsman Graeme Hick will have an operation on his right elbow to remove fragments of cartilage, while pace bowler Simon Jones has still not recovered from a neck injury picked up at Warwickshire last week.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes had hoped that the pair would be available for their first match at New Road in over 10 months.

But with both Hick and Jones out, youngsters Moeen Ali and Chris Whelan will make their first Championship starts of the campaign.

"Graeme is unable to throw the ball and you can't hide anyone in the field," Rhodes said.

"We had hoped that he would be able to play on, but it could lock up and then Graeme wouldn't be able to hold the bat too, so its best to get it sorted now.

"We have an able replacement in Moeen and we look forward to seeing him score lots of runs.

"We are looking forward to being back at New Road. There has been a lot of time, energy and money in getting the ground ready and hopefully the weather will be good for us."

Welshman Jones picked up his neck injury on the opening day at Edgbaston when batting after a short ball struck him on the head and he jarred his neck.

"Simon was due to see a specialist," said Rhodes. "It is just his neck. We are not anticipating it be a long term injury."

With two influential players missing Rhodes will be hoping that the County will be able to put behind them the disappointment of the heavy seven-wicket Friends Provident Trophy defeat at Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Worcestershire will be looking to replicate the performance at Edgbaston where rain robbed them of a comfortable victory.

"We have had a good debrief from the game against Warwickshire where we completely outplayed them," Rhodes added.

"Leicestershire had a good start to the season where they scored plenty of runs and took wickets."

The Foxes will arrive at New Road with two former Worcestershire players in their ranks.

Seamer Nadeem Malik, who took eight wickets in the opening game against Middlesex - including 5-51 in the second innings.

While former academy star James Taylor has been included in the squad for tomorrow's match.

Taylor, 18, scored 200 runs at an average of 50 in the Under 19 World Cup in Malaysia earlier this year.

Foxes coach Tim Boon said: "What I want is for every young player to earn the right to come into the first team and he has done that."

Worcestershire: Mitchell, Moore, Solanki (capt), Smith, Moeen, Davies (wkt), Batty, Andrew, Kabir, Magoffin, Whelan.

Leicestershire (from): Boyce, New, Ackerman, Du Toit, Allenby, Nixon (capt, wkt), Taylor, Henderson, Rowe, Cummins, Malik, Kruger.