KABIR Ali will miss Worcestershire's LV County Championship clash with Hampshire at Kidderminster Victoria today (10.30am).

The New Road strike bowler is being rested to ensure that he is 100 per cent for Sunday's all-important Pro40 clash with Northants, which is also being played at Kidderminster's Chester Road ground.

With relegation to Division Two already confirmed, Worcestershire are focusing on winning the NatWest Pro40 crown.

"Kabir has been carrying a few niggles so he will be rested for this game so that he is refreshed for Sunday's match," Rhodes said.

With Kabir out, Rhodes has recalled Roger Sillence to the 12-man squad, but the county's director of cricket is planning on using two spinners at the Chester Road North ground.

The absence of Ali means that Dewald Nel and Sillence will be battling it out for the final seamer spot, but with the Scotland international featuring in Durham last week, Nel could be retained once again.

And Rhodes will be keen for Gareth Batty to continue from where he left off at Durham last week with the off-break spinner taking six first in-nings wickets at Chester Le Street, while Ray Price is expected to be handed a start.

"The Kidderminster wicket is generally a good one, but on the fourth day spin is likely to figure heavily," Rhodes said.

That will be good news for Hampshire as they hope star attraction Shane Warne will be fit for today's clash.

The Rose Bowl skipper has missed the last three games with a rib injury and initial scans appeared to show a fracture, but further investigation showed a muscle tear.

"Shane had a repeat MRI scan, which indicates a muscle tear adjacent to his rib which appears to be more consistent with what happened," said Hampshire physio Andrew Nealon.

Warne's return is likely to be at the expense of veteran slow left-arm bowler Shaun Udal.

"Warne is still one of the greatest bowlers in the world and probably the best spinner ever, so it will be a good test for my players," added Rhodes.

However, while the 37-year-old leg-spinner is hopeful of a return to action, Hampshire will be without their England trio Kevin Pietersen, Chris Tremlett and Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Worcestershire will be looking for revenge against the Rose Bowl side after the 285-run defeat last month.

The New Road side were skittled out for 86 in their first innings and they could only manage 101 more runs at the second attempt.