WHEN we come off the field on Friday evening, I want every player in our side to be aching from head to toe.

For every single minute of our match at Durham, which starts today, we have got to give our all.

But we have to do it without our captain Vikram Solanki, wicketkeeper Steve Davies and batsman Stephen Moore as they are playing for the England Lions at New Road — so it is going to be tough.

How do you replace guys like that? The simple answer is you can’t.

But there are big opportunities for their replacements — Alexei Kervezee, Dave Wheeldon and Josh Knappett.

However, I really believe that the Lions squad will have hit Durham harder than us.

They have led their attack with Lions players Stephen Harmison and Graham Onions, who have been taking most of their wickets, while we have our bowling department intact.

Of course, Durham do have one of the best squads in the country but the way we went about our business yesterday in training means I’m full of optimism.

Everyone has to step up to the plate — myself included. The senior lads have to help the younger, less experienced boys.

If we are beaten by a better side then I can accept it, but I can’t if we lose on commitment, effort and enthusiasm.

While we are up at Durham, Vik, Davo and Moorey will have their chance to shine for the Lions and put themselves at the forefront of bigger things.

We all desperately hope they do well this week and, with it being an Ashes summer, who knows what could happen?

If they shine then they could be next in line to play for England which would be brilliant if it happens.

We can’t dwell on going out of the Twenty20 Cup. Of course, nearly every time we have gone into a must-win match over the last couple of years we have lost.

But this is not like the Friends Provident Trophy exit. We have played some really good cricket in this season’s Twenty20 competition.

To go out, though, was disappointing.

You only have to look at the likes of Middlesex to see how topsy-turvy Twenty20 cricket is.

Last year, they won the tournament but this season they have only triumphed in two matches — anyone can beat anybody.

We weren’t as consistent as we would have liked to have been but that is something for next year now — we can’t let it affect the rest of our season.