STEVE Rhodes is confident Worcestershire can overcome Kevin Pietersen and company to stoke a winning run in the totesport League.

The Royals head to Hampshire's Rose Bowl for a televised day-night clash today (4.10pm) aiming to post back-to-back Division One victories.

After a poor start to the one-day competition, Worcestershire lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a 20-run triumph at Gloucestershire.

Victory in Bristol came at a vital time, as the County must have wondered where their next win was coming from after their third successive Championship defeat at Northants.

"It was a crucial four points for us," said head coach Rhodes. "We managed to take ourselves off the foot of the table and, hopefully, it is the start of things to come. We are still desperate for points.

"The confidence is good within the team. That has never been a problem. We played at Northampton, had an 80-run lead and then it all went wrong.

"If we are getting hammered and playing poorly, then confidence may well be a problem. But the lads know that if we keep playing as we are, the results will come."

Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar plays in Southampton, after being rested against Gloucestershire, and he could prove to be the trump card in keeping Pietersen quiet.

England's powerhouse has been released to bat for his county but Rhodes is not concerned at the inclusion of the Ashes Test debutant.

Rhodes added: "Pietersen is obviously the man of the moment in English cricket. But he's a human being at the end of the day and we'll look to keep him quiet.

"We've got dangerous players of our own and I'm sure Hampshire will be worried about our squad."

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

County teenager Steve Davies removed Sri Lanka Under 19s' opening batsmen with two catches behind the stumps as the tourists struggled against England at New Road today.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 98-7 in the 22nd over.