KENT SPITFIRES will welcome an early opportunity to avenge their Twenty20 Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Leicestershire last month when they entertain The Foxes in Wednesday night’s floodlit NatWest Pro40 clash in Canterbury.

Robert Key’s side are still smarting from the humiliating reverse at Grace Road and would like nothing better than to give Jeremy Snape’s side a drubbing in front of an anticipated big crowd and the Sky Sports cameras.

Key is hoping that a vociferous and partial home crowd will tip the balance his side’s way come the start at 4.40pm.

“If you look at the way it went in the C&G Trophy and the Twenty20 Surrey, Hampshire and ourselves are the sides most likely to succeed, but it’s imperative we make the most of our home games.

“Leicestershire gave us a bit of a thumping up at their place, so it’ll be nice to see a big crowd here cheering us on to turn that around and try and make St Lawrence a bit of a fortress.

“I think we’ve got a good one-day squad together this year and if we can get a bit of a run going then I see no reason why we can’t achieve some good things in this competition.”

The Foxes will bring with them former Kent favourites Paul Nixon and David Masters, while Kent will have Geraint Jones available for his second Pro40 appearance of the campaign.

With Martin Saggers hampered again by his heel injury, Kent will consider bolstering their seam options with the inclusion of Simon Cook or to go with the twin spin option of Min Patel and James Tredwell.

Kent (from): Stevens, Dexter, Van Jaarsveld, Key, Bravo, Walker, Jones, Henderson, Tredwell, Patel, Khan, Cook, Denly.