Nasser Hussain and Stuart Law were due to make a welcome return when Essex continued on the NatWest Trophy trail against Wales in Swansea.

Hussain was back from England's disappointing defeat in the opening Test against the West Indies, while Law was ready to resume battle after missing the last couple of games with back spasms.

The county named a party of 12 for yesterday's (Wednesday's) third-round tie, with 12th man duties likely to be disputed by Stephen Peters and Darren Robinson.

Essex squad: Irani, Hussain, S Law, Prichard, Grayson, Peters, D Law, Hyam, Mason, Cowan, Ilott, Robinson.

Over at Billericay, the Essex Board XI were to take on Warwickshire - but were still waiting to learn if Graham Napier will be released from Essex 2nd XI duty in time.

Napier was the hero of the Board's triumph over their Lancashire counterparts last month, turning in a match-winning 79 from 49 deliveries.

His absence would put an even bigger batting burden on Andrew Hibbert, who spent six seasons on the Essex staff before being released in 1998.

The contest also signalled the return "home" of England batsman Nick Knight, a member of the county staff before joining the Midlands outfit six years ago.

The selectors were hoping to add Napier's name to the following squad: Andrew Hibbert (Gidea Park), Nick Carlyle (Loughton), Giles Ecclestone (Saffron Walden), Alex Richards (Wanstead), Roy Smith (Shenfield), Andy Clarke (Hutton), Chris Sains (Gidea Park), Simon Moore (Shenfield), Andy Churchill (Gidea Park), Andy McKinley (Saffron Walden), Tim Jones (Chelmsford), Simon Fitzgerald (Fives & Heronians).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.