KENT Spitfires return to Birmingham and the scene of their 2001 National League title success this Sunday on a mission to stave off the drop to Division 2.

Until their last-gasp title victory over the Bears in Edgbaston two seasons ago Spitfires had regarded the second city Test venue as something of a bogey ground.

But it will be Division One relegation fears that haunt David Fulton’s side on their return this weekend.

The two teams have yet to meet in the league this year, but Kent travel to the Midlands knowing victory over the fourth-placed Bears is essential if they are to climb above Leicestershire and out of the relegation zone.

With just five matches of the campaign remaining, Kent will again be without Ed Smith, on Test duty in Leeds, but South African raised all-rounder Matt Dennington may feature again after recovering from a fractured finger.

The Bears will hope to include West Indian pace bowler Corey Collymore who signed last week as overseas locum for injured Kenyan leg-spinner Collins Obuya.

Collymore, 25, is one of the new breed of Caribbean pacemen who, many believe, look set to take over from the legendary Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

Having made his Test debut against Australia in 1999, the Barbadian already has 42 one-day internationals under his belt.

Kent from: Key, Carberry, Fulton, Symonds, Walker, Ealham, Jones, Tredwell, Muraltharan, Saggers, Dennington, Khan, Sheriyar, Loudon and Trott.