STEVE Rhodes is determined that Worcestershire won't fall prey to another giant-killing act by Herefordshire in Wednesday's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy fourth round clash at New Road.

"If you are hot favourites for any tie you must have the attitude to go out there and smash them," said the County vice-captain.

Herefordshire's heroes booked their short trip to New Road in sensational style with a famous three-wicket win over humbled Middlesex at Kingsland.

"It's a dangerous tie for us," said Rhodes, "but first of all I'd give them a lot of credit for what they have achieved already. They didn't do this victory over Middlesex by any fluke. They out and out beat them. They scored 270-odd to win. It was a marvellous effort.

"There's a lot of ex-players from Worcester so it adds an extra bit of spice to the game on Wednesday with the likes of Paul Thomas, Harshad Patel, Ismail Dawood, Nathan Round and Chris Boroughs.

"So we know their players well. They have got nothing to lose so it's a fantastic occasion for them to come to New Road and take us on."

Rhodes accepts that the eagerly-awaited tie is potentially an embarrassing banana skin for the County, saying: "If you give these sort of teams any kind of inch they will take a yard, so we have got to be very upbeat."

He added: "We have got a great opportunity to get into the quarter-finals and we have got to be very positive about the way we play our game.

"The lads did tremendously well in the last round against Hertfordshire, who aren't as good as Herefordshire, but the way they dominated the game is exactly what we have got to do on Wednesday.

"We have got to smash them. We have got to go out there as hot favourites and not let our guard down whatsoever.

"This is a tough game for us and that's why we are going to go out there with the attitude of doing a job and doing it well."

Wicketkeeper Rhodes accepts that giant-killing acts, although rare, are always capable of happening and has been on the wrong end of a few himself over the years.

"We let it slip against Scotland one year and I remember one occasion where we have lost to the Universities, who had a good side mind.

"But I also remember two occasions when I played for England when we lost to the Australian Academy on two consecutive days, so these things happen.

"There are two ways it can happen. You relax too much and let them in or you try too hard in a way and become a little bit tense yourselves.

"That's what would have happened to Middlesex. I can't believe they went in there thinking they were going to win the game easy with 278 on the board, but when it got tighter they probably got a little bit tense and it was a great victory for Herefordshire."

Harshad Patel, cousin of former Worcestershire all-rounder Dipak, was Herefordshire's man-of-the-match against Middlesex for his top score of 68.

Earlier this year he became Worcestershire Cricket Board's development officer after having a similar role with Herefordshire.

Speaking about Wednesday's clash from his New Road office, he said: "We are just going to come here and enjoy ourselves. We have got nothing to lose."

He admits, however, to having mixed feelings about the forthcoming tie. "I've been affiliated with Herefordshire since 1992 and I was on the staff at Worcestershire in the 1980s and I've still got a lot of friends on the playing staff at New Road. I think I'll just enjoy it really.

"Within Herefordshire it is creating a massive amount of interest and it's doing wonders. On the finance side of things Herefordshire are struggling a bit and it has generated a bit of money. There is a belief within the side, but we are on a hiding to nothing really. A couple of balls could change the game.

"I think all the Herefordshire players will be fired up. It raises the profile of the team plus all the individuals playing."

Patel, who used to captain Herefordshire, is convinced the side can give the County a good run for their money.

"It's about doing yourself justice. As long as they are not 450-0 and we are 50 all out. I'm sure we can put up a good showing."

Wednesdays' full draw is: New Road: Worcestershire v Herefordshire; Taunton: Somerset v Glamorgan; Headingley: Yorkshire v Surrey; Canterbury: Kent v Northamptonshire; Old Trafford: Lancashire v Sussex; Bristol: Gloucestershire v Hampshire; Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex; Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire.