WORCESTERSHIRE face two games in the space of two days as their bid to reach the quarter-final stage of the Twenty20 Cup gathers pace.

Steve Rhodes' men will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday night's seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Glamorgan in Cardiff.

Only once in the first three years of the popular competition have the Royals reached the knock-out stages and Rhodes has ear-marked an improved Twenty20 showing as one of the priorities for the season.

That improvement can get under way tonight when the County take on Gloucester-shire (5.30pm) in Bristol. It will be a big game for birthday boy Roger Sillence as he bids to prove to his former employers that they made a mistake in letting him go.

Then, tomorrow night, New Road sees its first Twenty20 action of the summer when Northamptonshire come to town (5.30pm).

County chief executive Mark Newton has forecast massive crowds for the home games, but there will be fewer gimmicks at New Road this year.

Former Worcestershire opener Stephen Peters, who moved to Wantage Road in the close season in search of regular first-team cricket, has not enjoyed the best of starts to the season, but will be hoping to get one over on his old club tomorrow night.