Kent are waiting on fitness tests on skipper Rob Key and Robbie Joseph before naming their side to face Essex in the LV= County Championship Division 1, which starts at Canterbury on Thursday.

It’s the first of back-to-back home championship matches at St Lawrence, with Somerset the visitors in Festival Week which begins on Tuesday.

They are two vital games in a run of matches which will determine whether Kent survive or fall after one season back in the top flight.

They are seven points behind seventh-placed Hampshire, who have a game in hand, and bottom club Warwickshire still have to visit St Lawrence.

Head coach Paul Farbrace said: "I think the championship will go right to the wire and it’s vital we have our best players playing in every game.

"We haven’t played much championship cricket at Canterbury so we must make being on home soil count."

Key’s broken finger is progressing well, while Joseph was also due to have a net on Wednesday after missing the Somerset game at Taunton last week for more treatment on his shoulder.

Farbrace said: "Rob is making a good recovery but he only did it 20 days ago, so it is still sore."

If Key and Joseph don’t return, then Kent’s depleted resources mean they are likely to name the same side that held on for a draw against Somerset.