CAPTAIN Daryl Mitchell says Worcestershire’s LV= County Championship Divi-sion One destiny is in their own hands as they prepare to entertain title-chasing Lancashire at New Road today (11am).

The County moved out of the relegation places last week with a rain-affected draw at Hampshire, while fellow strugglers Yorkshire collapsed to an innings defeat against Warwickshire.

The White Rose county are facing a return clash with the second-placed Bears at Edgbaston today, but Mitchell is staying focused on Worcestershire’s aim to shock the league leaders and start to gain ground on fourth-from-bottom Sussex, who visit New Road next week.

“We are out of the drop-zone at the minute which is massive psychologically,” the County skipper said. “We have a game in hand on Yorkshire and we have a bit of a buffer from Hampshire, so it is in our own hands.

“We have got three games to play and have the opportunity to get a lot of points. Also we are looking to catch Sussex — they are not that far above us.

“We are just taking each game as it comes and trying to execute our plans and win the game.”

Mitchell is hoping Worcestershire can once again perform strongly against Lancashire after taking the Red Rose county to the final morning at Blackpool earlier in the month despite being 21-5 in their first innings.

But, with the match being back at New Road, the County will look to prepare a seaming wicket with Kemar Roach now in the ranks.

The West Indies pace ace got off the plane from Barbados to bowl the first over of the match at the Rose Bowl.

But the 23-year-old was rested for bank holiday Monday’s six-wicket Clydesdale Bank 40 defeat against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Mitchell is looking to have the fast bowler fully refreshed to face Lancashire.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him rev it up at New Road,” the skipper said. “He has had the weekend off to try and get some rest and, hopefully, he will be fully firing.

“We asked a lot of him in that first match and he delivered.

“Kemar bowled very quickly in both innings and really pleased with the way he fitted into the dressing room.”

James Cameron is likely to retain his place at the top of the order after replacing 20-year-old Matt Pardoe against Hampshire.

Richard Jones is also set to keep his spot after taking wickets at the Rose Bowl.

“Richard has been bowling really well, he did a little bit with David Saker, the Eng-land bowling coach, earlier in the season and he has got his confidence back,” Mitchell added.

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell (capt), Cameron, Solanki, Moeen, Kervezee, Kapil, Andrew, Scott (wkt), Jones, Roach, Richardson, Choudhry.