[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

A rare pleasure for Worcestershire this week, as the Pears at last renew their acquaintance with the one major county they haven't played in any format since 2015 and welcome Middlesex to New Road.

After being second best at Old Trafford, albeit narrowly, and taking only three points from the game, it's vital for Worcs to get back to winning ways against promotion rivals. Dawid Malan is very much the prize scalp with his 254 runs for the season, while Nick Gubbins follows on 194, Stevie Eskinazi on 157, Sam Robson on 155 and Max Holden on 151. With the ball it's far from the expected return, as Steven Finn and Toby Roland-Jones have been both ineffective and expensive, and it's been Tim Murtagh leading the way with 12 wickets, James Harris with 6 and Ollie Rayner with 5.

Worcestershire's attack has been more or less fine, but we desperately need some stability and resistance in the top-order with the bat. Josh Tongue is set to return, and after his hamstring injury last week I'd expect Wayne Parnell to make way.

A few showers forecast in the coming days, but a full game should be possible.

Probable Worcestershire XI: Mitchell, Fell, Ferguson, Dell, Wessels, Cox, Whiteley, Barnard, Leach, Tongue, Morris