Essex Eagles v Kent Spitfires

KENT could secure their place in the Twenty20 Cup knock-out stages for the first time and book a home quarter-final tie to boot should they defeat Essex under floodlights in Chelmsford tonight.

The sell-out game, which starts at 7pm, could decide which of these two sides ultimately tops the southern qualifying group.

Kent will go into the tie without Whitstable batsman Joe Denly, an 11th hour withdrawal with a sore shoulder, who will be replaced by Simon Cook for a season's cup debut.

Confidence in the camp will remain high, however, after Thursday night’s dramatic 10-run win over Sussex in Hove.

Three wickets in five balls from South African Andrew Hall inspired the win but for Hall tonight’s game will be his penultimate appearance for the club before heading off for Test duty against Sri Lanka next week.

"It was one of those games that you were never quite sure which way it might go but thankfully our bowlers all fired toward the end there," said Hall after his three for 15 return on the south coast.

"It showed again how dramatic Twenty20 can be. Min came up to me and said he had to take a punt and bring me back early to break the partnership between Yardy and Adams.

"Had we not done that then Sussex would have won quite easily I felt, but it was nice that things went my way on this occasion.

"We played at Chelmsford last year and it was a very lively atmosphere, but this year we have something to play for and it’s part of our game planning to secure that home quarter final tie."

Kent: Dexter, Stevens, Hall, Tredwell, van Jaarsveld, Cook, Walker, Henderson, O’Brien, Patel, Khan.

* Mark Pennell's match report will appear here at the end of the game tonight.