Premier rivals set for showdown

Jonathan Wright's team have rarely been in better shape to attempt a toppling of the champions in their own backyard.

Victory over Dougie Brown's Barnt Green in their latest league outing made it seven wins out of seven for Victoria so far this season – two in the Birmingham League, three cup wins and even two victories in friendlies.

Wright said: "We've had some decent results against Walsall at our ground – but I think it's fair to say they have returned the compliment at their's.

"We're not making any bold predictions but we do know this is an important test for us. We would love to go there and keep this run going.

"But we know how tough the match will be."

They will also be strengthened by the return of Imran Arif to their bowling attack, with Worcestershire poised to release him for duty over the weekend.

Kidderminster are still waiting for overseas man Kevin Forde to join – his arrival continues to be snared in red tape – but they are managing pretty well without him.

Ted Baylis was the hero of a thrilling victory over Barnt Green by first holding the innings together with 67 out of 188, a performance which underlined the club's view that there is a batting potential still to be fully realised in a player more commonly known as a specialist bowler.

The captain said: "Sometimes you wish Ted would realise just how good a cricketer he is."

When Barnt Green began the chase it soon became clear that Brown's would be the key wicket which Baylis duly provided, after the ex-Warwickshire star had made 61, at a critical phase in the innings.

The match boiled up to a wonderful finale which saw Arfan Khan brought back to bowl the final over at Barnt Green's last wicket pair and sneaking one through Steve Bevan's defences to give him match figures of 4-53.

Paul Wicker's Walsall are relishing the Kidder test but are playing down the significance.

Wicker's reigning champions sit third in the Premier Division following a victory over Walmley and a winning draw at Shrewsbury last Saturday.

He said: "It will be an early season test and we identified Kidderminster as being there or there abouts and they've started off as we thought they would.

"It will be a very competitive game but there is nothing around it like promotion, relegation or a chance to win the title."

Walsall want to build on their winning draw at Shrewsbury, where Mo Sheikh top scored with 46 not out, as they reached 173-8 before restricting their hosts to 157-8 in 55 overs.

John Moore drops out after the return of Gareth Williams, but Wicker has urged the bowler not to be disheartened.

He said: "We need him to continue to develop, not sit in the first team and not bowl as many overs as he could in the second team."