It certainly is a game we've got a chance in. After that brilliant tie at Edgbaston last week, the team will be full of confidence, despite the NCL defeat to Surrey and will be fully up for this match.

Leicestershire, on the other hand, had to survive with the bat to stave off defeat to Kent last week and although did that well, with ex-Essex 2nd XI player Damien Brandy scoring 52, the signs are there as to why they are mine and many others tip for relegation this term.

The batting looks weak and the bowling would seem to lack penetration. The Grace Road outfit will rely heavily on Maddy, Stevens, Nixon, DeFreitas, Snape and Malcolm to prevent relegation and if they don't fire, you can see them struggling.

It's a far cry from the team of only 6 or so years ago, that won 2 Championships inside 3 years, but that team has gradually been split up and the more older pros like Malcolm and DeFreitas are nearing their retirement.

Not too much on the youngster front either, opting instead to sign players from other counties, like Nixon (back again) and Master from Kent and Snape from Gloucestershire to name just 3.

Aussie Bradge Hodge will make his Championship debut this season and he'll need to score runs. Leicester's other overseas player, Indian star Virender Sehwag, hasn't arrived yet and Leices will be hoping he does soon.

Essex lads Jon Dakin and Aftab Habib will want to prove a point against their former club just to add more spice to the occassion and with Nasser Hussain set to play, the Essex batting looks strong again.

Still slight problems with the bowling, but hopefully that can be put right by the start of this match.

Essex don't have a good record against their midlands counterparts, but won on their last visit to Grace Road, which was the opening match of 2001, where we won by an innings and 9 runs. More of the same?

Andrew McGarry hasn't recovered from his side strain, so is still out. Nasser Hussain and John Stephenson have been added to the XI that played at Warwickshire, although Stephenson will likely be left out. Nasser will play, so it looks like Habib or Grayson will step down and with Larry providing the variety of spin as well, unfortunately it looks like Affy will be 12th man again. So the squad (predicted XI first):

D.D.J. Robinson, W.I. Jefferson, N. Hussain, A. Flower, A.P. Grayson, *R.C. Irani, + J.S. Foster, J.M. Dakin, J.D. Middlebrook, G.R. Napier, S.A. Brant....A. Habib, J.P. Stephenson.

Brad Hodge and Devon Malcolm join the team that played at Canterbury and will probably replace Sadler and Brignull respectively. Predicted XI:

T.R. Ward, B.J. Hodge, D.L. Maddy, D.I. Stevens, + P.A. Nixon, D.G. Brandy, J.N. Snape, * P.A.J. DeFreitas, D.D. Masters, C.E. Dagnall & D.E. Malcolm.

Hard to call, because the weather looks set to play a part. If time allows I think we can nick a win, but I'm going to sit on the fence and say a draw.

What are your views?! Put your views on the message board or e-mail me, links below:

Date: 30/4/03

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