KENT welcome back England batsmen Ed Smith and Robert Key for the start of their penultimate Frizzell Championship match of the summer starting today at Grace Road in Leicester.

The host club seem likely to name former Kent players Paul Nixon, Trevor Ward and Davis Masters in their squad for a must-win match if they are to avoid the drop into Division 2.

Though Kent are virtually safe, they avoid the temptation to experiment with fresh blood and strengthen with the return of Smith from Test duty at The Oval and Key, who missed the championship win over Surrey with a chipped finger.

Alamgir Sheriyar, who was dropped for the three-day, innings win over Surrey, is also restored to the squad and seems likely to play on the ground where he started his county career, possibly at the expense of Amjad Khan, who could be ousted should Kent prefer to play two spinners.

Despite scoring an excellent 93 over his former team-mates, Michael Carberry is left out with Matt Dennington and Rob Ferley seemingly vying for 12th man duties.

Kent squad: Fulton, Key, Smith, Symonds, Walker, Ealham, Jones, Khan, Saggers, Sheriyar, Muralitharan, Ferley, Dennington