ESSEX have two crucial Twenty20 Cup matches at Chelmsford on successive evenings starting with the fixture against Middlesex tonight which is followed by an encounter with Kent tomorrow, both matches being staged under the floodlights.

ESSEX have two crucial Twenty20 Cup matches at Chelmsford on successive evenings starting with the fixture against Middlesex tonight which is followed by an encounter with Kent tomorrow, both matches being staged under the floodlights.

Following three consecutive wins, the county went to the Rose Bowl on Monday heading the South Group but a poor batting display cost them dearly and they now find themselves in third place in a tightly-contested group.

With only the top two guaranteed qualifying spots in the quarter-finals, Essex will be looking to boost their chances of manoeuvring back into contention with a home win double.

Middlesex have lost all five of their matches in the competition thus far but Kent, who inflicted a 39-run defeat on Ronnie Irani's men in the opening match, have secured four wins from their first five games.

Essex have problems ahead of the two key matches. They will definitely be missing Alastair Cook and Ravinder Bopara, who are playing for England A, while injury doubts surround Andy Flower (back strain) and Andre Adams, who has an ankle problem.

Opener Will Jefferson could be in line to make his first appearance in the senior side this year having missed the opening couple of months because of a damaged wrist before he then sustained an inter-costal muscle injury.

Middlesex have been forced to field weakened sides having supplied Andrew Strauss, Ed Joyce and Jamie Dalrymple to the England one-day squad while captain Ben Hutton has been ill.

Kent have unearthed a diamond performer in South African Tyron Henderson. Essex conclude their campaign of qualifying matches with a trip to Hove where they face current leaders Sussex on Tuesday.

Tonight's squads

Essex (from) - R Irani (captain), M Pettini, D Gough, R ten Doeschate, J Foster, A Bichel, J Middlebrook, G Napier, T Phillips, A Flower, A Adams, W Jefferson, G Flower and V Chopra.

Middlesex (from) - S Styris (captain), O Shah, E Smith, J Dalrymple, E Morgan, N Compton, P Weekes, B Scott, J Louw, C Peploe, C Silverwood, C Keegan and Mohammed Ali.