KENT enter cricket’s equivalent to the last chance saloon on Sunday when they take on Leicestershire Foxes in a must-win National League clash at Grace Road.

With just two games of the campaign remaining, Kent go into the match knowing defeat will send them down for the first time since the inception of two divisional cricket.

To raise the stakes even higher, Leicestershire, who appear doomed to the drop in the county championship, also require a limited overs victory to prevent Kent going above them.

Just two points separate the two clubs, Leicestershire having won six to reach 24 points while Kent, with a slightly better run-rate, lie two points back with five wins from 14 starts.

To give the tie even more flavour, the hosts are likely to include three former Kent players, David Masters, Trevor Ward and Paul Nixon, all of whom have good reason for wanting to put one over their former county.

For Spitfires, who will be strengthened by the return of Ed Smith from England duty and Rob Key from a chipped finger, the pre-match equation is a simple one.

Win at Grace Road and win against Warwickshire, who are now safe, in next Sunday’s final game of the season, and Kent will keep their record as top-flight ever presents.

Kent from: Key, Smith, Symonds, Walker, Fulton, Ealham, Jones, Tredwell, Khan, Saggers, Muralitharan, Dennington, Carberry, Ferley.