WORCESTERSHIRE Royals are confident of having Simon Jones fit for tomorrow's Friends Provident Trophy at New Road against Somerset Sabres.

The Welshman picked up a neck injury on the opening day of the LVCC Division Two season at Warwickshire and has not been seen since.

But Jones, who became a father for the second time on Wednesday, has had cortosone injections to ease the pain in his neck and is set for his New Road debut.

The 2005 England Ashes hero will replace Chris Whelan in the Royals side as they look to bounce back from their crushing seven-wicket defeat at Gloucestershire Gladiators last Sunday.

The Sabres could include former Worcestershire star Zander de Bruyn for the first time this season after the South African complete his move to the West Country outfit earlier in the week.

Somerset beat Hampshire Hawks last Sunday by six wickets and with big hitters Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer in their side they will be looking to continue from where they left off.

Worcestershire (from): Solanki (capt), Davies (wkt), Moeen, Smith, Moore, Mitchell, Batty, Kabir, Andrew, Magoffin, Jones, Whelan.