'We are in a strong position and going to the Rosebowl to win' says Shine

Somerset will be looking for their third championship victory of the season when they take on Hampshire at the Rosebowl tomorrow and travelled to the south coast in confident mood after their emphatic innings victory over Glamorgan in their last match.

Skipper Mike Burns told me: "We have got to feel pretty positive after the way that we have been playing in the 4 day game. Hampshire are probably the strongest side that we have faced yet and it will be a tough game but we are going there to play to win and keep ourselves in the reckoning for promotion."

The Cidermen will be without Andy Caddick, who is recovering from a foot injury, whilst Marcus Trescothick has returned to the England fold to prepare for the First Test Match against Zimbabwe that starts tomorrow.

In addition Somerset will also be missing Richard Johnson, one of the leading championship wicket takers in the country, who is resting a groin injury and the young all rounder Aaron Laraman who played so well in the Glamorgan victory but is suffering from a side strain.

Matt Wood is included to take the place of Trescothick whilst the absence of Johnson means a recall for Steffan Jones. Keith Dutch takes the place of Laraman and Gareth Andrew is also included in the squad and could make his championship debut at the Rosebowl.

When the two sides met in June at Bath last season it was Somerset who had the best of a drawn game, but in the return match at the Rosebowl two months later it was Hampshire who were victorious by 4 wickets despite the presence of Caddick.

At the end of last season both sides were relegated to the second division, so Hampshire will be just as keen as their visitors to return to the top division at the first attempt, but so far this season their first four games have been drawn and they are currently in fourth place in the table.

Although he sustained an injury during the match at Bath last season, during his years with Somerset Jamie Cox has enjoyed success against Hampshire. He said: " I've always done well down at Southampton, but not so much at their new ground. We have got to feel pretty confident, we are playing good four day cricket and after two wins we are sitting in second place in the table."

Coach Kevin Shine told me: "We are in a strong position in Division Two now and we are going down to the Rosebowl to win."

The full Somerset squad - Peter Bowler, Matt Wood, Mike Burns, Jamie Cox, James Bryant, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Keith Dutch, Nixon McLean, Simon Francis, Steffan Jones and Gareth Andrew