CAPTAIN Daryl Mitchell insists Worcestershire will be ready to hit the ground running in tomorrow’s Specsavers County Championship Division Two curtain-raiser against Kent at New Road (11am).

The 32-year-old opening batsman admits it’s imperative the County make a good start to their four-day campaign as just one promotion spot is up for grabs in Division Two.

They finished bottom of Division One last season and were relegated alongside Sussex, who are tipped by many pundits to bounce back at the first attempt.

Mitchell said: “There are some very good teams in Division Two and it is imperative you make a good start to the season.

“If you don’t start well, it’s very difficult to play catch-up. With only one side being promoted, it will be very hard to win the division.

“Sussex are probably the favourites for the title as they have an extremely strong depth of squad and it was a big surprise to everyone that they got relegated at the end of last year.

“I am sure Sussex will be firm favourites but hopefully we can sneak up on their tails and be there or thereabouts at the business-end of the season.”

Mitchell, pictured above, certainly knows the qualities needed for a title challenge.

“We have been promoted five times in my time at New Road and I think we’ve been relegated five times,” he said. “The expectation and pressure is slightly different this year. Some people are talking about us being one of the better teams.

“In the past, we have been serious underdogs so it will bring a different type of pressure but it’s something I am sure the lads will relish.”

Worcestershire will be missing Tom Fell, who hit more than 1,000 runs in Division One last season, for at least the first half of the summer as he undergoes chemotherapy for cancer.

The retirement through injury of experienced batsman Alex Gidman and departure of opener Richard Oliver has left a batting hole.

But Mitchell said: “We have some hardened first-class cricketers in the top six and some good young lads, like George Rhodes and Alex Hepburn, who are coming through the ranks.”

New Zealand opening bowler Matt Henry is preparing for his County Championship debut and will boost a strong-looking Worcestershire seam attack.

“The bowling is looking really strong with the three lads who got plenty of wickets in the last few seasons in Shants (Jack Shantry), Leachy (Joe Leach) and Morris (Charlie Morris).

“If you throw Matt Henry, Ed Barnard, Chris Russell and Josh Tongue into things, it looks strong.”

Mitchell added: “I think this is my 14th season at the club and I am still nervous yet excited about getting out on the field. All the preparation has been done. We’ve had a good pre-season programme and are raring to go.”