STEVE Rhodes says Worcestershire are geared up for their “biggest game of the season potentially in Championship cricket" ahead of today's clash with current Division Two leaders Essex at Chelmsford.

Director of cricket Rhodes admits Essex deserve to be in pole position after their performances this season.

But he is looking for Worcestershire to "give a really good shot" in striving to claim the win needed to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Rhodes said: "How many times do I say 'I never look at the table!' All we can do is keep winning.

"We've always known to go down to Chelmsford is a massive game and it looked like being that way half-way through the season.

"We will just do our best down there. It will be a nice tonic to welcome Miguel Cummins and see how he goes.

"They are a good side and they deserve to be at the top because they have played some excellent cricket this year and they are a tough side to beat.

"We will give it a really good shot. The likes of Alastair Cook opening the batting and Browne and Westley, have scored loads of runs this year.

"It won't be easy but we will give it a really good shot because this is going to be our biggest game of the season potentially in Championship cricket."

Rhodes has named a 12-strong squad with West Indies paceman Cummins added to the players on duty in the win over Northamptonshire plus Chris Russell and minus Charlie Morris.

WORCESTERSHIRE from: Mitchell, D'Oliveira, Fell, Clarke, Rhodes, Whiteley, Cox, Leach, Barnard, Shantry, Cummins, Russell.