DIRECTOR of cricket Steve Rhodes is relishing taking Worcestershire into a crunch clash at relegation rivals Nottinghamshire today as “underdogs”.

Worcestershire start the second half of their LV= County Championship Division One programme at Trent Bridge (11am) with Rhodes confident several crucial wins are just around the corner.

Twelve points from last week’s draw against Middlesex at Uxbridge moved the County two points above both bottom two teams and put them 10 behind sixth-placed Sussex.

Meanwhile, Notts slipped to the foot of the table after an innings crushing by Yorkshire and are level on points with Hampshire.

Rhodes said: “Both sides will be looking forward to the challenge of trying to get a win, particularly Notts in many ways because they put a lot of pride in their achievements in Division One.

“They have been big players in Division One for many years now. They’ve got a big budget and a massive squad.

“They are very much favourites on their own turf and it’s a great game for us to go as underdogs with half that budget and try to beat them.

“We are the underdogs, no doubt about it. It gives us lots of confidence because we can knock the favourites off their pedestal.

“Do I enjoy that status? Yes, very much so. It’s a nice place to be. If you are not expected to win, the pressure is on the opposition.”

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Ross Whiteley, who has made two Championship appearances so far this season, returns to the Worcestershire squad after impressing in T20 competition.

All-rounder Moeen Ali has linked up again with England as part of their Ashes training camp in Spain.

England under 19s prospects Joe Clarke and Ed Barnard retain their places in the County squad.

Worcestershire have one Championship win to date so far against Somerset but have been competitive in most games, while Notts beat Sussex earlier this month for their single success.

Rhodes continued: “We need a couple of wins and I’ve got confidence that we can achieve that.

“We’ve played some terrific cricket. Even down at Middlesex, we were dominating for quite a long period of the game.

“Sadly, we couldn’t quite do it. The bowlers tried their hardest and we couldn’t quite bowl them out in the second innings to get the points.

“We’ve worked so hard and deserve a bit of luck. If we keep working as hard and playing as well as we are, I’m sure there are a couple of wins around the corner for us in the Championship.”

Veteran wicketkeeper Chris Read returns to the Notts side after a hamstring strain and seamer Luke Fletcher could come in for his first Championship appearance of the season for the club after impressing on loan for Surrey.

Notts director of cricket Mick Newell said: “They’re all important games. The fact we’ve slipped to the bottom and are playing a team above us only adds to that.

“We’ve got to toughen up with the bat, show a bit of fight and compete at home. If we play well, I think we’ll win.”

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell, Oliver, Fell, Gidman, Clarke, Cox, Barnard, Leach, Shantry, Ajmal, Morris, Whiteley.

Notts (from): Ball, Fletcher, Gurney, Hales, Hilfenhaus, Hutton, Lumb, Mullaney, Patel, Read, B Taylor, J Taylor, Wessels, L Wood.