ESSEX will hope to leave Gloucestershire in a spin when the pair’s LV County Champ-ionship Division Two clash gets under way in Chelmsford this morning (11am start).

The hosts will field two spinners on a dry pitch at the Ford County Ground.

And the decision to name both Danish Kaneria and James Middlebrook in the starting line-up means there will be no place for young seamer Maurice Chambers.

Captain Mark Pettini told the Echo he and his players were confident of extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 10 matches ahead of Saturday’s trip to Twenty20 Cup Finals Day.

“They have got a couple of good pace bowlers in Jon Lewis and Steve Kirby, but overall they’ve struggled a bit this year,” Pettini observed.

“I think they’re a bit light in the spin department and obviously we’ll be playing two spinners.

“It’ll be a tough game, as they all are in four-day cricket, but if we play to our potential I’m sure we’ll win.”

Chambers’ absence will also allow the 20-year-old paceman a break ahead of Saturday’s big day out at the Rose Bowl.

The Jamaican-born bowler has impressed with his pace and ability to take wickets regularly since being drafted in for the Twenty20 Cup campaign.

In 14 matches, Chambers has taken 17 wickets, including three in Essex’s most recent county championship match – a draw with Glamorgan in Cardiff last week.

However, with his spin-twins in action against struggling Gloucestershire, skipper Pett-ini is confident of success.

“We have got a lot of confidence in our home form and, although the atmosphere and crowd won’t be the same as it is for one-day cricket, we’re still looking forward to getting out there again,” he added.

Aside from Chambers being left out, Essex have named an un-changed team from the Glamorgan fixture.

That means on-loan Kent batsman Neil Dexter – who will be cup-tied for the counties’ Finals’ Day semi-final clash – will be given another opportunity to impress, despite having scored just 29 runs in his last eight innings for Essex.

Gloucestershire team mentor Jack Russell, the former England wicketkeeper, is hoping his team can secure a victory that would take them off the bottom of the table.

“There’s a lot to play for, and if the team can get a good run in the County Championship then pushing towards the top is a possibility,” said Russell.

Essex: (from) Pettini (capt) Chopra, Gallian, Bopara, Dexter, Foster (wkt), ten Doeschate, Napier, Middlebrook, Masters, Danish Kaneria, Chambers.

Gloucestershire: (from) Lewis (capt) Porrterfield, Kadeer Ali, Marshall, North, Gidman, Taylor, Snell (wkt), Kirby, Ireland, Banerjee, Hardinges.