WORCESTERSHIRE batsman Reuben Spiring and paceman Maneer Mirza are on course to end their injury nightmares.

Both have come through rigorous fitness checks and are stepping up their training programme with the rest of the County players in Portugal this week.

Twenty-five-year-old Spiring had his 1999 season cut short because he required a sixth operation on his troublesome knee which prevented him from making a first team appearance in 1998.

And it was a similar story for 22-year-old Mirza who spent last year on the recovery trail following back trouble which stopped him from playing a single game for the first team.

New Road cricket committee chairman Martin Horton said: "Both had very good tests last week because we said we wouldn't take them to Portugal unless they were fully fit.

"Reuben has come back after playing in Australia, albeit only one-day cricket, but he's returned absolutely fighting fit.

"They both saw the specialist after they had had the work-out and no after-effects were found."

Horton, who is with the Worcestershire players at their Portugal training camp, said: "Reuben has been out for two years basically with injuries and he must have wondered what his future was."

Missing for the early part of the season, however, will be all-rounder Gavin Haynes who is recovering from a knee operation.

When they return from Portugal this weekend, the Worcestershire players will have net sessions at New Road before stepping up their 'warm-up' programme with four one-day friendlies.

The first will be on Sunday, April 7, away to Hampshire followed on Wednesday, April 10, by a home game with Nottinghamshire.

The following day they travel to meet Derbyshire who will also be the County's opponents in the final friendly at New Road on Saturday, April 13.

Worcestershire's season will start in earnest with a Benson and Hedges Cup trip to Northamptonshire on April 15.

The following day sees Worcestershire open their New Road campaign with another cup tie, against Glamorgan.