Leicestershire Foxes are forced to make a change at the top of their batting order for the visit of Durham Dynamos this evening (5.30) in the Friends Life T20.
Opening batsman and wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien is on World Cup duty with Ireland and will miss the next three games, hardly what the Foxes need as they search for their first victory in this season's competition.
Ned Eckersley will take over the gloves and looks most likely to open alongside Josh Cobb, leaving Joe Burns to come in at No.3 and Shakib Al Hasan at No.4.
Seam bowler Robbie Williams is ruled out with a hamstring injury and Matthew Hoggard is set to replace him, while all-rounder Rob Taylor is restored to the line-up after his own World Cup stint in Scottish colours.
Cobb believes that Taylor's presence down the order was missed in Saturday's defeat by Derbyshire, although he still feels the Foxes should have claimed victory.
"Having Rob come in at No.9 could have made a difference," said the Foxes captain.
"But one of our main batters had to take a bit more responsibility and get us over the line.
"It was a game we lost rather than Derbyshire winning it.
"We need to get a win on the board now and get going. We've made a slow start but, hopefully, with a few changes, we will see things start fitting into place a bit better.
"It would give us a lift and a confidence boost to help us pick up momentum."
Head coach Phil Whitticase also spoke about the need for responsibility, although he accepted that the Foxes, especially with the loss of O'Brien, remain an inexperienced side who are still largely learning the 20-over art.
"We need a little bit more responsibility from people in the roles they play," said Whitticase.
"You want people to stand up and wins game for you. I watched Shiv Chanderpaul do that for Derbyshire the other night. He made 83 in 70 balls, paced it perfectly and played the right shots."
What will frustrate the Foxes is that they have shown in their two games to date that they are capable of batting and bowling to good effect – they just have not put the two disciplines together in the same match.
"In both games we have played some really good cricket," said Whitticase. "But in T20 it is down to fine margins.
"One good over for the batting side can change a game. One good over from a bowler, with a couple of wickets going, can also change a game."
The crowd at Grace Road this evening will be swelled by the presence of a number of Leicester City players and staff, who will be available for autographs and photographs.
Leicestershire batsman Michael Thornely has received a reprimand from the ECB.
Thornely was reported by umpires Mike Burns and Trevor Riley for showing dissent at an umpiring decision during the second XI match against Derbyshire on July 2.
