Kent Spitfires v Gloucestershire Gladiators

KENT'S Friends Provident Trophy fate for 2007 will be decided at The Nevill on Wednesday when the Spitfires take on the Gloucestershire Gladiators. A place in the last four is up for grabs for the winner.

Sunday's narrow defeat to Hampshire saw Kent lose the leadership of the southern conference and slip to equal second spot with 11 points, meaning they must win in the Royal Spa Town to stand any chance of making the knock out stages.

Rob Key will again name an unchanged side to take on the Gladiators, one of the most consistent one-day sides of the past decade in a winner takes all game.

Though delighted with his team's progress in limited overs cricket in the past 12 months, Kent's director of cricket Graham Ford remains phlegmatic over the possible outcome of Spitfires' final qualifier.

Ford said: "The side have shown great character this season already, they've bounced back after adversity, as they did after defeats to Sussex and Durham, to go and produce excellent performances.

"They suffered another set-back on Sunday in losing a game to Hampshire that they looked to have won, I know that hurt like hell, so this last game will test their resolve yet again.

"They've given it their all and shown a great attitude and, as a coach, you can't ask for more than that. The reality is it's not a matter of life or death."

The biggest reality for Ford and Co. is that six sides in the conference are still gunning for the two qualification spots. The top team will land a lucrative home time, while the runner's up will travel to play the winners of the northern conference.

Wednesday's game is scheduled for a 10.45am start.

Spitfires: Jones, Stevens, van Jaarsveld, Denly, Hall, Key, Walker, Yasir Arafat, Tredwell, Cook, McLaren. 12th man Dexter.