Essex's hopes of securing the win that could take them to the top of the LV County Championship Division Two table could be washed away before today's clash with Worcestershire has even begun.

Incessant rain in the West Country and North Wales has led to fears that the River Severn, which flows past the county's New Road home, could burst its banks and leave the ground unplayable.

And should that happen, the pitch is unlikely to be ready early enough for either side to force a result in their four-day showdown.

"Of course I'm worried," Mark Newton, Worcestershire's chief executive, admitted.

"I look at the forecast all the time these days. There are no flood warnings at present, but 24 hours can change all that. I'm not sitting comfortably."

Should the game be washed out, it would prevent third-placed Essex from chasing a third victory in five championship games this season.

Worcestershire, meanwhile, have drawn all four of their matches and sit seventh in the table. Essex have added in-form batsman Varun Chopra and seamer Maurice Chambers to their squad for the trip up the M5.

Chopra, who has played two championship games this season, has recorded scores of 50, 79 and 39 in his last three Friends Provident Trophy innings as Essex set up a quarter-final at Leicestershire on Wednesday.Ex-England Under-19 bowler Chambers, meanwhile, could play just the second championship game of his career, having not featured since taking 1/84 against Derbyshire in June 2005.

The hosts will check on Gareth Batty (back) and Gareth Andrew (heal) before naming their team.

Chris Whelan could force his way back after taking 12 wickets in a second team game, but England paceman Simon Jones will definitely start should the wet weather relent.And Worcestershire director of cricket, the former England wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes, believes Essex's batsman could face a torrid spell from the Welshman.

"We must remember we are trying to get him back fit for England, he needs more overs and more cricket under his belt," said Rhodes.

Worcestershire: (from) Solanki (capt), Mitchell, Moore, Smith, Hick, Davies (wkt), Batty, Andrew, Magoffin, R.Jones, S.Jones, Kabir Ali, Moeen Ali.

Essex: (from) Pettini (capt), Gallian, Chopra, Westley, Bopara, ten Doeschate, Foster (wkt), Middlebrook, Wright, Tudor, Palladino, Masters, Chambers, Danish Kaneria.