KEY performer Zaheer Khan has been rested for Worces-tershire's floodlit Pro40 Lea-gue clash with Yorkshire at Headingley today (4.40pm).

The Indian paceman has bowled 584 overs this season in all forms of cricket and the decision has been made to give him a game off in a bid to maintain his fitness for the Liverpool Victoria County Championship division two and Pro40 promotion pushes to come.

Kabir Ali, who was dropped for the five-run win over Kent on Sunday, returns to the squad as does Ben Smith, who jarred his back in the warm-up.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "The remainder of the season is utterly important and we knew that at some stage we would have to give Zaheer some time off.

"He has bowled a lot of overs this season and we need to make sure he is feeling fully re-charged for the finish to the season."

The one-day games are coming thick and fast for the County now, but Rhodes believes this will help his side to forge a promotion bid.

He said: "With Headingley, you never really know what to expect -- sometimes it can be awkward to score on and other times it can be a really good batting wicket.

"We want to make it three Pro40 wins on the trot so we can turn up at Taunton on Sunday on a roll. I think we can challenge for promotion. That was one of our targets at the start of the season and I think it is realistic."

For Yorkshire, wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy returns after scoring a century for the second XI against Durham. The Tykes also include promising all-rounder Adil Rashid in their 12-man squad. However, overseas bowler Jason Gille-spie has returned to Australia to take part in the same training camp as Phil Jaques.

Worcestershire: Moore, Vin-cent, Solanki, Smith, Hick, Davies, Batty, Sillence, Kabir Ali, Price, Mason, Malik.

Yorkshire: White, McGrath, Lehmann, Lumb, Gale, Bro-phy, Dawson, Thornicroft, Adil Rashid, Pyrah, Kruis, Patterson.