WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids are hoping South African paceman Kyle Abbott will be fit for tomorrow’s Royal London One-Day Cup derby against Warwickshire at Edgbaston (11am).

The 29-year-old international arrived at New Road last month but has been out of action after suffering a foot problem.

Rapids are second in the North Group and, after a stuttering campaign in the NatWest T20 Blast, will be dreaming of a Lord’s final in the 50-over format.

Rapids should take plenty of heart from their T20 displays against the Birmingham club this season after completing a memorable double over their big rivals.

Worcestershire have won two and lost one of their four One-Day Cup games so far, while Warwickshire are seventh in the group after one win and two defeats.

Worcestershire opened with a seven-wicket defeat against Derbyshire before hammering Yorkshire by seven wickets.

Rapids then won by seven wickets in a rain-hit match at Durham before their home match against Leicestershire was washed out without a ball bowled on June 15.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell said: “We are sitting in the qualification spots at the moment and this is a tournament we really want to focus and perform better in than we have done in previous years.

“We need to hit our straps in the four remaining group games.”

After facing Warwickshire, Rapids host Northamptonshire in the competition at New Road on Wednesday (11am), before entertaining Pakistan in a two-day touring game, starting on Friday (10.30am).

Rapids resume their 50-over campaign when Droitwich’s Ashley Giles brings his Lancashire outfit to New Road on Sunday, July 31 (11am).

And Mitchell’s men wind up their group programme against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on Monday, August 1 (2pm).

“We have won back to back games in the County Championship and are flying high in that competition at the moment.

“It’s important we to try and do well in the white-ball stuff and carry on that momentum when we come back to the red-ball in August at Kent.”