The Somerset players emerged from their lengthy team meeting at the County Ground just after mid-day in a confident mood, but were only too well aware of the task that lays ahead of them over the next six weeks if they are to avoid relegation in both the county championship and the NUL National League.

The Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: “We had a very positive meeting and talked through a lot of issues. Everybody now knows exactly what we have to do and we will be travelling to Southampton later on today with a positive outlook.”

All rounder Mike Burns told me: “We had a chat about everything and know exactly what lies ahead of us over the next six weeks. Everybody is up for it we are all confident that we will be alright.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game against fellow strugglers Hampshire at the Rose Bowl skipper Jamie Cox told me: “This is a game we have got to win. We have slipped into a position that we didn’t want to be in, and now we just have to get ourselves out of it. If we can win some games then we will be OK, but if we keep losing then we will slip further into trouble.”

With both sides in the first division relegation zone the Cidermen will be looking to record their second win of the four day campaign to earn some vital points to help them climb to safety.

After their defeat at Canterbury at the weekend Somerset coach Kevin Shine set his side the target of winning half of their remaining six matches, and with Hampshire occupying the place above them in the table this game could well seal the fate of the loser.

Somerset have made two changes to their championship squad for the match tomorrow.

Bowler Simon Francis replaces Steffan Jones, who is suffering from an ankle injury, and gets the chance to play against his former county, and Peter Bowler went home early from the players meeting feeling unwell so will be replaced by either Piran Holloway or Pete Trego.

The full Somerset squad is: Jamie Cox, Matt Wood, Mike Burns, Keith Parsons, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Keith Dutch, Richard Johnson, Matt Bulbeck, Andy Caddick, Simon Francis, Piran Holloway and Pete Trego.

© SOMERSET