Despite being a Saturday the County Ground at Taunton was a hive of activity this morning.

Outside fast bowler Richard Johnson was running laps round the ground alongside one of the club physio's Ross Dewar, and the signs are looking good for him to be fit to play in the C and G semi final against Kent.

`Johnno' has been missing from the scene since he injured his hamstring against Warwickshire at Edgbaston five weeks ago, but he hopes to play in a club game on Sunday, and providing there are no after effects he will be back to spearhead the Cidermen's attack on Thursday.

Alongside the Academy Fitness Centre a forklift truck has been delivered in readiness for the erection of the portable stand that is expected to take place at the start of this week.

Meanwhile inside the Colin Atkinson Pavilion the office staff were busy dealing with telephone and personal sales for the remaining 500 tickets for the semi final.

By the time that the office shut at lunchtime a fair number of these had been sold.

Accounts manager John Fitzgerald told me: "Any remaining tickets will be sold to personal callers only on Monday, between 9am and 5pm. After that there will be no further tickets sold."

© SOMERSET