IF KENT are to threaten a first championship title in 28 seasons then it is essential their experienced pace duo of Martin Saggers and Simon Cook remain fit and well throughout 2006.

It is a basic requirement of winning four-day games that the side dismiss the opposition twice, yet it was an area in which Kent struggled last summer, particularly after overseas all-rounders Andrew Hall and Justin Kemp returned home.

Saggers never quite found his form while Cook, in his maiden season since joining from Middlesex, showed signs of fatigue after shouldering the burden of bowling work for the first four months of the campaign.

Both are on the comeback trail after winter repair work and confident of playing bigger parts this time around.

At 33 Saggers, who missed the start of last season through back spasms, is very much aware that people may begin writing him off. He spent some of the close season playing club cricket in South Africa and is confident of improving on his eight first-class appearance last year.

He said: "I’m feeling good and really looking forward to the season. South Africa was going well, but I came back early with a sore heel and to make sure I got that right for the start of the season.

"Last season was a kick up the backside for me in many ways, I was working hard, but nothing really went right for me. I didn’t bowl to the best of my ability and have to be honest with myself over that. I know I had a sub-standard season and that wasn’t good enough."

Indeed, Saggers is insistent that his experience is what will stand him in good stead as he bids for greater consistency in 2006.

He added: "Some people have been saying I’m too old, that I’ve lost a yard of pace, but to me age is nothing. I came into the first-class game late so believe I’ve got a few years in me yet.

"I think people tried to make excuses for my bad bowling last year. I think it was just a case of me not having much luck at a time when I wasn’t in the best of form.

"When I was at my peak and picking up a stack of wickets I wasn’t bowling any quicker than I am now, I was just more consistent."

Cook, who claimed a creditable 41 championship wickets at an average of 30 last summer, went under the surgeon’s scalpel this winter to rectify damaged tendons in his right shoulder.

He took his first wickets of the spring in a pre-season friendly against his former county and appears ready to become Kent’s 'Mr Consistency' again this summer.

"Although I had shoulder and burn out issues toward the end of last season, on the whole I was happy with how it went," said Cook.

"It’s fine now and I just need some overs under my belt to be back to full speed, although I won’t be throwing properly until the middle of the season."

As for his role in the side this summer, Cook added: "I was fully prepared for my workload last season, in fact, I’m happiest when I’m working hard and bowling lots of overs.

"The only target I set myself is to influence whatever game I’m playing in, other than that I just aim to remain consistent.

"In one-day cricket this season I see myself bowling more in the middle of the innings or at the death, to give Rob Key a measure of control, and of course, I'd like to chip in with a few more runs."