ENGLAND seamer Martin Saggers will miss tonight’s crucial Twenty20 Cup qualifier against Sussex in Canterbury.

The Norfolk-born bowler has been advised to rest the sore knee that also forced him onto the sidelines against Essex and Surrey last week.

Saggers said: “It’s my right knee that’s causing me problems, which means no golf or Twenty20 Cup for me sadly. It’s the same knee I had flushed out last season, but this soreness has nothing to do with that.

“I’m told it is patella tendonitis, nothing serious but, as a precaution, I’m resting and should be fit for Sunday’s totesport League game with Surrey.”

Victories in their last two zonal games against Sussex and Hampshire could still give Kent six points and possible qualification in the Twenty20 Cup as one of two best third-placed finishers.

Kent are boosted by the arrival of Kiwi Ian Butler direct from winning the NatWest Series with New Zealand. He replaces Shahid Afridi after a brief and relatively disappointing four-game stint in which Kent won just one game.

Though reigning county champions, Sussex are struggling in both formats of the game this year and look set for Twenty20 elimination as well as relegation to Frizzell Division 2.

They have won just six matches in all forms of cricket this season and are rooted to the bottom of the Twenty20 Southern qualifying group without a win from three starts and the worst run rate in the section.

Kent's Rob Key will be hoping for better fortune than he had in the last game in the competition last Friday.

Key played the most spectacular and forceful limited overs innings of his career (66 from 38 balls), but still finished on the losing side. Surrey's triumph ensured them a place in the quarter-finals on July 19, but left Kent hoping for qualification through the back door.

The match is scheduled for a 5.30pm start.

Kent from: Symonds, Carberry, Loudon, Key, Walker, Jones, Smith, Tredwell, Butler, Khan, Trott, Dennington, Ferley.