ESSEX meet Somerset this evening in Bath as they continue their Friends Life twenty20 involvement but the Eagles continue to be affected by injury concerns.

ESSEX meet Somerset this evening in Bath as they continue their Friends Life twenty20 involvement but the Eagles continue to be affected by injury concerns.

All-rounder Graham Napier is definitely ruled out having tweaked a hamstring during the win over Middlesex on Saturday night whilst Scott Styris aggravated a calf injury the previous evening against Kent although he may be risked purely as a batsman.

Essex have only four South Group matches to play and First Team Coach Paul Grayson is targeting three victories as his side battle to win a place in the quarter-finals.

“We have three massive matches this week starting with Somerset who are a very good side. Then we play Hampshire on Wednesday before meeting Glamorgan at Chelmsford and we need to win at least two of these games if we are to keep our interest alive in the competition.”

Essex will select from a 15-man squad with a decision regarding the fitness of Styris delayed until the last possible moment although if the Kiwi all-rounder does play, it is likely that he would only be used as a batsman.

Somerset squad: M Trescothick (captain), A Suppiah, C Meschede, J Hildreth, K Pollard, J Buttler (wicket-keeper), N Compton, P Trego, M Kartik, G Hussain, L Gregory, S Kirby, M Waller.

Essex squad: M Pettini, O Shah, S Styris, R ten Doeschate, R Bopara, M Walker, J Foster (captain/wicket-keeper), A Wheater, T Phillips, T Southee, D Masters, C Wright, T Westley, T Craddock, R Topley.