WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes is relishing today’s LVCC Division Two table-topping clash with local rivals Warwickshire (10.30am).

In a match that is being billed as the one that decides where the title will go, the New Road chief says his side can’t let there focus slip as they look to make an immediate return to the top flight.

The County need another 33 points to secure promotion to Division One, while 49 points would seal the title. However, with Essex not playing this week the celebrations, no matter what the result at New Road this week, will have to wait.

However, Worcestershire go into this this game with an attack severely depleted and a doubt over the fitness of veteran batsman Graeme Hick.

With Kabir Ali, Simon Jones and Matt Mason all in the treatment room, 42-year-old Hick is facing a fitness test on an elbow injury that kept him out of Saturday’s NatWest Pro40 Division One victory over Gloucestershire.

But despite all these problems, Rhodes can’t wait for play to start.

“It would be nice to have some of our better bowlers out on the park, but I’m really proud of how Imran Arif, Gareth Andrew, Chris Whelan and Andrew Harris have been playing,” he said.

“Chris will start today and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity having played so well in the seconds.

“We are optimistic that Gra-eme will be okay, but he will have a fitness test and is a slight doubt.

“But this is a top-of-the-table clash and they are always good fun.”

With both Worcestershire and Warwickshire on the ver-ge of going up, expectations will be high. A positive result for either team will all but seal a return to the top flight.

“Of course a win will put us close,” said Rhodes said. “But Warwickshire will be thinking the same too.

“We have to approach this game the way that we have played all season.”

Despite only three more games remaining in the Championship, Rhodes still hasn’t given up hope of bringing in a top class international seamer before the end of the campaign.

Arif is Worcestershire registered overseas player, but with the postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy there is a break in the international calendar.

With the likes of former Worcestershire bowler Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami heading for Surrey and Sussex respectively, players are seemingly becoming available.

“We are still looking despite nearly running out of games,” Rhodes added. “I suppose it is a little easier now, but some players are thinking that they can now take a natural break.”