LOCAL derby festival matches with Sussex and Essex are the championship highlights from Kent's provisional fixture list for the 2003 season.

Newly promoted Essex provide the opposition for Canterbury Cricket Week starting at the end of July, while Sussex travel the short distance from Hove to The Nevill ground for Tunbridge Wells Week in June.

Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire will be visiting The Mote in Maidstone in July, while Kent make their first visit to Beckenham in 49-years with limited overs' matches against Gloucestershire and Hampshire in mid-June.

Then St Lawrence plays host to its second one-day international when Zimbabwe clash with South Africa as part of the NatWest Triangular series on Sunday, June 29.

Kent Spitfires will also feature in three floodlit matches next season, in Canterbury against Worcestershire and Surrey in August and September respectively, sandwiched either side of another day-night match in Bristol against The Gladiators.