SKIPPER Daryl Mitchell admits relegation-threatened Worcestershire have three “cup finals”, starting against rivals Sussex at New Road today (10.30am).

The second-from-bottom County are four points adrift of Sussex and one place below them in LV= County Championship Division One.

With a tough visit to Durham and a home finale with second-placed Middlesex in their other four-day fixtures, Steve Rhodes’ side badly need points from their lowly rivals.

Mitchell said: “This is a huge game and there are three cup finals going towards the end of the season.

“The Sussex match is probably the biggest out of the lot — it’s against our rivals who are just above us.

“Sussex have got some big names and are a strong side, as are all sides in Division One.

“Whoever performs best over the next four days at New Road will come out on top.”

Saeed Ajmal and Jack Shantry are within reach of personal milestones going into the crucial clash.

Pakistan spinner Ajmal, in the final appearance of his current spell at New Road, needs just four more wickets to clock up the 100 mark in the Championship for his adopted County.

He has taken 96 wickets in 19 matches spanning three spells at New Road in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and was a key player last summer in securing promotion.

Ajmal, 37, was also the County’s leading wicket-taker in the 2015 NatWest T20 Blast with 21 in 12 appearances at 16.57 runs apiece.

He is returning home as intended to participate in a religious festival and West Indian paceman Shannon Gabriel will replace him as overseas player for the final two games.

Left-arm paceman Shantry, 27, needs just one more wicket to join Joe Leach in reaching the 50 mark for the season in the Championship.

Shantry achieved that goal for the first time last summer when he ended up with 56 Division Two wickets.

Worcestershire have named the same squad originally chosen for the rain-affected clash with Somerset at Taunton, which was abandoned as a draw.

The County were denied the chance of bagging more batting points on the final day due to the rain in Somerset.

Mitchell says he does not have any concerns over the players who could open the innings with him in matches.

He added: “It’s something Dolly (Brett D’Oliveira) has done very well in the second team and Tom Kohler-Cadmore has done it in the second team too.

“Richard Oliver has had his opportunities at the top of the order as well this year. Competition for places is good.

“With Dolly being a spin bowler too, he will probably end up being our only spin option in the final two games of the season unless Moeen Ali is unavailable.”

Bottom team Hampshire, who are 11 points adrift of Rhodes’ men, play at Durham from today and Somerset head to leaders Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Moeen scored 72 not out from 46 balls in England’s T20 international with Australia in Cardiff.

Moeen then took 1-3 as England won by five runs.

Worcestershire (from): Mitchell, D’Oliveira, Fell, Clarke, Gidman, Whiteley, Cox, Leach, Shantry, Ajmal, Morris, Barnard.