Essex Eagles v Kent Spitfires

Kent's in-form opening batsman Joe Denly will play in tonight's floodlit Twenty20 clash against Essex in Chelmsford despite suffering an injury in scoring his fourth successive cup half-century on Monday.

After Kent's win over Hampshire in Canterbury the 21-year-old right hander, who has scored 215 runs at an average of 53.75 so far this campaign, complained of a slight intercostal muscle strain between the ribs on his left side - the legacy of hitting his only six of the night.

However, with little or no back up in terms of batting, Neil Dexter is on loan at Essex and Matt Walker seemingly out of contention, Denly will go through the pain barrier and take his place in an unchanged side.

Skipper Rob Key may well be tempted to rest one of his front line bowlers Yasir Arafat or Azhar Mahmood for tonight's clash at New Writtle Street, so Robbie Joseph could feature for the first time.

Essex, who have lost of their four T20 games, have added Tony Palladino and Tom Westley to their squad as captain Mark Pettini remains sidelined by a groin injury, while Tim Phillips is still short of match fitness following knee surgery.

Loan signing Dexter is not permitted to play against his 'mother' county.

Some tickets, costing £18 for adults and £9 for juniors, are still available for the game that starts at 7pm.

Kent from: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Kemp, Stevens, Jones, Mahmood, McLaren, Arafat, Tredwell, Cook, Joseph.

Essex from: Varun Chopra, Gallian, Flower, Westley, ten Doeschate, Foster, Middlebrook, Napier, Masters, Kaneria, Chambers, Palladino.