KENT SPITFIRES V SURREY BROWN CAPS at Canterbury (C&G Trophy), 1 MAY 2006

Despite today's loss to the Sussex Sharks, Surrey can go into tomorrow's encounter at Canterbury in the knowledge that, amazingly, the they have lost just one of their last ten one-day meetings with the Kent Spitfires. Also in the Brown Caps' favour, is Kent's record of played two, lost two at the St Lawrence Ground this term.

But the hosts will take heart from the availability of Justin Kemp, who topped their limited-overs batting averages in 2005. Tomorrow could also see a first appearance of the season for England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones. The bowling department is where the Spitfires have some choices to make, though. Robbie Joseph, who looked impressive in the championship win at Lord's, will be difficult to ignore. Judging by last week's reverse against the Somerset Sabres, Matt Dennington or Martin Saggers are the most likely candidates to make way.

The dangers as far as Surrey are concerned must be Martin van Jaarsveld (who made 593 runs at an average of 34.88 in List A cricket last summer) with the bat, and Simon Cook (24 wickets at 25.16 runs apiece and an economy rate of 4.53) with the ball. But keep an eye out for Neil Dexter, a 21-year-old all-rounder who opens the batting as well as turns his arm over with good effect in the one-day arena.

Kent's Matt Walker has 4,933 List A career runs to his name. In addition, if he plays, Martin Saggers is two wickets away from 150 victims.

The new season is a little over two weeks old and the Surrey physios Dale Naylor and Neil Walker are already submitting their overtime slips. The Brown Caps' seam attack will be down to the bare bones for tomorrow's trip - Azhar Mahmood (back), Martin Bicknell (groin), Rikki Clarke (shin), Jimmy Ormond (Achilles tendon) and Mohammad Akram (groin) are all sidelined - and people scoffed when I suggested on the messageboard that Chris Silverwood was someone Surrey should have looked at in the off-season!

Three things contributed to today's defeat at the hands of Sussex - the gifting of three extra overs due to the bowling of far too many wides, finishing our innings on a low note and losing a front-line bowler on a good batting wicket early into the defence. Even though I am prepared to predict that these will factors will not be repeated in front of the Cyclopses at Canterbury, one cannot help but feel that the visitors' attack is there for the taking. So, to cut a long story short, even I have to concede that a Kent win appears to be on the cards.

D Stevens, N Dexter, M van Jaarsveld, R Key (capt), M Walker, J Kemp, J Tredwell, G Jones (wk), S Cook, R Joseph and M Saggers.

Rob Bailey and Richard Kettleborough.

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