Kent's influential one-day all-rounder Darren Stevens looks set to win his personal fitness race in time to play in next weekend’s Twenty20 Cup finals day at the Rose Bowl.

The 34-year-old from the East Midlands missed Kent’s four-day LV Championship defeat in Somerset after complaining of a slight adductor muscle strain in his inner thigh.

He underwent a scan on Friday revealing a slight tear in the muscle that leads into the groin, but Kent’s physiotherapist Nimmo Reid remains confident that Stevens will play against Essex in Saturday’s first semi-final.

He said: “Darren has had a few days rest and is now resuming work in the gym using the resistance of a fitness band, a large rubber band if you like, to strengthen the muscle.

“The complete recovery from this sort of problem is about 10 days, so I’m sure he will be fit to play come Saturday.”

The Spitfires squad will enjoy a rare two-day break this week before building up for finals day with net sessions at the end of the week.