Kent's influential all-rounder Ryan McLaren will miss today's crucial Friends Provident Trophy tie with Essex after failing a fitness test on a thigh injury.

The South African Kolpak signing picked up bruising and a slight muscle strain while playing his match-winning championship innings at Trent Bridge last Saturday. The right-hander was hit on the thigh beside his padding and the muscle tightened thereafter.

McLaren will be rested today in the hope that he can be fit in time for Sunday's penultimate qualifier in Canterbury against struggling Surrey.

However, Azhar Mahmood, who missed the championship win over Nottinghamshire, returns to the side after his dislocated finger and Justin Kemp has declared himself fit after bruising a thumb.

Rob Key returns to lead the side, meaning out-of-sorts Matt Walker is left out of the squad.

Essex have a 100 per cent win record after three starts and top the table on six points. The day-night floodlit game is scheduled to start at the New Writtle Street ground 2.30pm.

Kent from: Key, Denly, van Jaarsveld, Dexter, Stevens, Kemp, Jones, Mahmood, Arafat, Saggers, Cook, Joseph, Tredwell.