WORCESTERSHIRE Royals are out to stop the Netherlands in their tracks today and put themselves in the frame for Clydesdale Bank 40 qualification.

Five wins from seven games have put the Dutch in pole position at the Group ‘A’ summit ahead of the meeting at Voorburg CC (11am BST).

The New Road side are seven points behind with two victories and two defeats, both of which have been on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

A nine-wicket loss under the system against today’s opponents last month was followed by Tuesday’s 12-run reverse to Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford.

Although still smarting from that result, in which Vikram Solanki and Phil Hughes both hit centuries in the Royals’ 259-9, the County make the trip buoyed by their efforts so far.

Captain Daryl Mitchell, who lost the toss in both games decided on Duckworth-Lewis, said: “It was bitterly disappointing (at Lancashire), especially after such a good first half to the game with Vikram and Phil both scoring centuries.

“It’s one of the best one-day partnerships I have ever seen so it was disappointing to come out on the wrong end of the result.

“I think we have played pretty well in our one-day campaign.

“We batted well against Holland in the first game, but unfortunately the weather was against us as well, and we had two fantastic performances against Essex and Middlesex.

“We go to Holland full of confidence and, with the result on Tuesday, it’s even more important that we get a result.

“They have had a fantastic start and are a good one-day outfit, their focus is almost entirely one-day cricket so they are very experienced.

“It’s a bit of the unknown but we are looking forward to it.

“We know what to expect from them and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Like his skipper, director of cricket Steve Rhodes also respects The Netherlands’ pedigree in the 40-over arena.

“Holland are a very experienced side, more than some county sides,” he said.

“Some people criticise our system (in England) when Holland are winning games but they have got a very good team.”

Rhodes has named the same 12-man squad that took on Lancashire as Worcestershire seek their third win in the competition.

With James Cameron back in the ranks at Old Trafford, it was all-rounder Aneesh Kapil who missed out and it remains to be seen if the teenager features today, while Alexei Kervezee will be up against his fellow countrymen.

Worcestershire (from): Solanki, Hughes, Moeen, Cameron, Mitchell (c), Kapil, Kervezee, Andrew, Scott, Lucas, Choudhry, Shantry.