Worcestershire CCC Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has named an unchanged 12 man squad for the home Specsavers County Championship clash with early Division Two pace-setters Essex.
Rhodes has kept faith with the 11 players in action during the drawn clash with Gloucestershire at Bristol plus paceman Charlie Morris.
Morris played for the Seconds in the three-day encounter with Sussex Seconds at Kidderminster earlier this week.
Rhodes is looking forward to finally tasting some action at New Road after the wash-out of the opening fixture with Kent two and a half weeks ago.
They will take on an Essex side who will be full of confidence after winning two of their opening three matches.
Rhodes said: "They have had a flying start and are obviously full of confidence.
"It will be nice to get to New Road and play some cricket there and if we can play like we have at Bristol, because I think Gloucs played well as well, then we will certainly give them a run for their money.
"It was a good game of cricket at Bristol. If you look at the scores, it was quite an even contest. Both teams could have pressed home advantages.
"But to be fair to the opposition and ourselves, we both fought back at times.
"On the Gloucestershire side, there was some terrific batting from Hamish Marshall and Chris Dent and then Jack Taylor struck it really well.
"On our side, Moeen was outstanding and Joe Clarke's first innings century was also outstanding and Coxy's partnership with Joe was crucial as well as others.
"So it was a good all-round effort and it was a good draw effort. We got good points (13) out of it but we will be hoping to go one better against Essex."
Moeen Ali, fresh from scores of 74 and 136 not out at Bristol, will be in action for the County against his England Test captain in Alastair Cook who has already scored two centuries for Essex this season.
Rhodes said: "I suppose that's one thing you can thank the IPL for is that for the ones who don't go to the IPL, there is no international cricket so that means you will see them playing county cricket which is always nice."
Worcestershire (from):
Mitchell
D'Oliveira
Moeen Ali
Clarke
Kohler-Cadmore
Whiteley
Cox
Leach
Barnard
Henry
Shantry
Morris
