MIN PATEL stands in line for his first championship appearance since September 2002 tomorrow when Kent travel to take on Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Patel's last championship appearance came at Headingley in the last game of the 2002 campaign, but perpetual neck and shoulder trouble led to spinal surgery.

The disc fusion operation led to him missing the entire 2003 season, but he announced his comeback with excellent figures of five for 56 in Sunday's nine-wicket win over the New Zealand tourists.

Patel said afterwards: "When they announced my name to come on and bowl at the Pavilion End there was an amazing reaction from the crowd and quite an ovation. That meant a lot to me, it made me feel like the crowd were on my side and actually got me feeling quite emotional.

"To be honest, all through pre-season and the 2nd XI games I've played so far I haven't felt that good, but right from the start I felt good against New Zealand and I really felt I was back to my best."

Now Patel is looking forward to pitting his wits against Northamptonshire on a pitch renowned for helping spin bowlers.

"They got promotion from Division 2 last year off the back of their home results and having a pitch at Wantage Road that suited the strengths of their attack," he explained.

"They have signed Steffan Jones to bolster their seam department but are bound to miss the runs that Michael Hussey scored for them.

"Having played them in pre-season we know that their two spinners Jason Brown and Graeme Swann form the key to their attack and that's where I come into the equation. I'm looking forward to going head to head with them and also challenging James Tredwell for the No1 spinner's spot in the Kent team.

"We have just beaten nigh-on the New Zealand Test side bar their captain, so we will go into the game with great confidence. We won't be taking Northamptonshire lightly, but we won't be going there in fear either."

With Geraint Jones absent on Test duty, Kent give a second championship bow to understudy wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien. Alamgir Sheriyar misses out with a slight back strain, leaving Martin Saggers, Mohammad Sami and Amjad Khan to vie with Patel and Tredwell for the four bowling berths.

The hosts will be without winter recruit Jones (hamstring) and will bring in former Surrey paceman Carl Greenidge. The sides also do battle in Sunday's corresponding totesport League match.

Kent from: Fulton, Key, Smith, Symonds, Walker, Carberry, O'Brien, Tredwell, Patel, Saggers, Sami, Khan.