RAY Price spins his way back into the Frizzell County Championship fray as Worcestershire aim to halt a losing run in Northampton tomorrow.

The slow left-arm Zimbabwean is included in the County squad that requires a vital pick-me-up victory following successive defeats in the four-day game.

Worcestershire's promotion chances from Division Two took a whack with losses to Leicestershire and Yorkshire.

And the dressing-room morale is unlikely to be soaring after Sunday's five-wicket totesport league reverse to Glamorgan Dragons at New Road.

However, fine batting knocks from Worcestershire's top-order, especially the maiden one-day century by opener Stephen Moore, offer plenty of comfort.

The County should also look to take advantage of Northamptonshire's poor Champion-ship form in a view to getting their season back on track.

Kepler Wessels' side are yet to register a single victory from eight outings as they hover above rock-bottom Derbyshire.

Worcestershire head coach Steve Rhodes is confident of piling further misery on Northamptonshire after naming a squad of 13.

Price returns following his omission against Yorkshire, as a turning pitch is expected, while Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar makes his Championship bow. "It would be nice to bounce straight back after losing back-to-back Championship matches," said Rhodes. "Those defeats really hurt in the dressing room.

"In both games, we played really good cricket but failed to see it through. That's what cost us, although we have come away from them in a positive frame of mind.

"We know that if we play the same way against Northamptonshire, we will win. I'm confident of it.

"But if we are totally professional, those results are history. We know what we've got to do in the County Championship and also to stay in Division One of the totesport League.

Rhodes added: "We are looking at this game with plenty of optimism. We've got Shoaib available after he bowled nine overs on Sunday and that's positive.

"We've added Ray Price to the squad because we feel the pitch may turn. We will assess it when we get there."

Squad: Davies, Moore, Hick, Smith, Solanki, de Bruyn, Batty, Pipe, Price, Malik, Kabir Ali, Shoaib, Mason.