Kevin Pietersen is set to make his Hampshire debut against Essex at the Rose Bowl tomorrow - where he will face his England one-day teammate Darren Gough.

Pietersen and Gough hit it off during the one-day series in South Africa but tomorrow they are likely to be in opposition following the news that Hampshire's big-name winter signing has a '90 per cent chance' of making his debut tomorrow.

A stress fracture of a metatarsal bone in his left foot prevented Pietersen from making his Hampshire debut against Gloucestershire in the county championship this week.

But, after seeing a specialist in London yesterday, the 24-year-old has been told that he should be available for selection.

Hampshire physio Pat Farhart said: "KP is certainly better than he was on Tuesday and is likely to play."

Pietersen was not the only Hampshire injury worry yesterday.

Overseas batsman Simon Katich went to Southampton General Hospital for an X-ray on his left index finger yesterday morning, and Michael Brown had his digits checked as a precaution after both took blows while batting on the second day of the championship match against Gloucestershire.

The good news is that there are no fractures and Katich will play tomorrow, while Brown, who only played four totesport National League games last season, is left out.

But there is also no place for Dimitri Mascarenhas, who continues to be troubled by a hamstring injury but who hopes to play against Sussex.

Essex have added slow left-armer Tim Phillips to the side that is playing against Yorkshire at Chelmsford, where Will Jefferson, a double centurion at the Rose Bowl last year, made 149.

Hampshire (from): Kenway, Katich, Crawley, Pietersen, Lamb, Pothas, Ervine, Warne, Tremlett, Taylor, Logan, Udal, Mullally, Adams.

Essex (from): Jefferson, Cook, G Flower, Bopara, A Flower, R Irani, Foster, Napier, Tudor, Adams, Gough, Phillips.