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WORCESTERSHIRE will be looking for a change in fortunes when they face Northamptonshire tomorrow (11am).

The New Road side have seen both their LVCC Division Two matches end in rain-affected draws.

The County have dominated both matches and are showing signs that they will be a force in the competition this season.

Steve Rhodes' new-look pace bowling attack has performed well and and the batting department has also impressed.

But when your opponents have two top-draw spinners in England's Monty Panesar and South African Nicky Boje, it is unlikely there will be a lot on offer for Worcestershire's seam attack of Kabir Ali, Steve Magoffin, Gareth Andrew and Chris Whelan, should Simon Jones not make his return from injury.

Gareth Batty will be relishing the trip to the turning Wantage Road pitch with the off-spinner having claimed career-best figures of 7-52 there in June 2004.

Batty knows that a lot of work is likely to fall on his shoulders but Worcestershire also have Moeen Ali and Rhodes believes the youngster is more than capable of being the County's second spinner.

The 20-year-old came back into the Championship side last week following Graeme Hick's elbow operation.

Rhodes is pleased with the way that his side have started the season. "We have dominated our first two four-day games but the rain has prevented us from picking up the winning points.

Northamptonshire will be without former County star Andrew Hall and his team-mate Johan van der Wath who are both waiting on registration appeals today with the England and Wales Cricket Board so they bring in their official overseas player Johann Louw for the first time.

The all-rounder was playing in the final of South Africa's Standard Bank Pro20 Series for the Dolphins only last week but, with Steven Crooks ruled out through a hamstring injury, he comes straight into the Wantage Road side.

Northamptonshire (from): Peters, Wakely, White, Sales, Wessels (wkt), Klusener, Boje (capt), Louw, Lucas, Panesar, Wigley, Brown.

Worcestershire (from): Moore, Mitchell, Solanki, Smith, Moeen, Davies, Batty, Kabir, Andrew, Magoffin, S Jones, Whelan.

6:30pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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