WORCESTERSHIRE boss Steve Rhodes insists his Rapids side will be difficult to beat if they can fire on all cylinders against Derbyshire Falcons tomorrow night (5.30pm).

Paceman Pat Brown, 18, has earned his first NatWest T20 Blast call-up for the home televised clash, replacing Josh Tongue who is on England under 19s duty with County team-mate Adam Finch.

Brown's involvement in the 13-strong squad at New Road is another indication of his progress this summer in second XI cricket.

He was also in the squad for the Specsavers County Championship Division Two match with Glamorgan last month.

The Peterborough-born teenager is on a cricket scholarship at the University of Worcester.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "Pat has done fantastically.

"He has surprised me this year with the progress he has made and is showing people, not just me but the captain and other players, he is well worth his involvement in the squad because he has been impressive for the second team.

"Pat has got a bit of pace and for a quick bowler he is a reasonable fielder, quite athletic so he can get around the park.

"He has made giant strides to get into this squad during the last year or so from where he came from and it is a case of another developing academy product which is really nice."

Rapids, who are third from bottom in the North Group, have lost their opening two T20 games at home to Birmingham Bears and Leicestershire Foxes but Rhodes is aware of what is required if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

He said: "It is a 14-game competition for qualification and that phrase of get your first win seems a bit desperate which we are certainly not.

"We know what we need to do to qualify and we certainly need to win games but we will approach this match just like the other two — to go out there to win.

"We haven't been quite at our best so far in the competition but there has been some good stuff.

"If we fire against Derbyshire then we will be difficult to beat."

Bowler Jack Shantry is in the squad after having a fitness test today on the ankle he injured in the five-wicket defeat to Leicestershire last Friday.

Derbyshire have already won two T20 games against Yorkshire and Northamptonshire before losing on Sunday at Lancashire by five wickets.

Experienced South Africa-born Wayne Madsen has shown good early form with the bat in the competition, scoring 37, 42 and 52.

Rapids from: Mitchell, Clarke, D'Oliveira, Cox, Leach, Santner, Whiteley, Hastings, Barnard, Rhodes, Shantry, Brown, Hepburn.

Falcons from: Godleman, Reece, Wood, Madsen, Hughes, Wilson, Brodrick, Smit, Critchley, Henry, Viljoen, Cotton, Qadri, Tahir.