Essex Eagles v Kent Spitfires

KENT skipper Rob Key is again likely to be missing when Spitfires take to the field in Chelmsford for tonight's fifth Twenty20 Cup qualifier against Essex.

The former England batsman pulled a hamstring in Kent's defeat to Sussex and was also forced to sit out Wednesday night's rain-ruined clash with Middlesex at Uxbridge.

He said: "I'll have a fitness test before hand, but to be honest I'm not too confident about it.

"I'm still struggling to run long distances and, having never pulled a hamstring before, I'm finding this a difficult injury to weigh up.

"What with this thigh problem and the weather you could say we're not having too much luck."

In fact, Key was Kent's top-scorer in their first three cup ties, so his absense with the bat will be missed. Martin van Jaarsveld will continue to deputise as captain for a floodlit game that is already sold out.

Kent from: Denly, Stevens, van Jaarsveld, Walker, Dexter, Jones, McLaren, Arafat, Cook, Tredwell, Morkel, Key, Joseph.