Hampshire will progress to the Friends Life t20 quarter finals with victory tonight.

Surrey’s win against Middlesex last night ensured the Royals a top two finish if they beat Essex today.

Hampshire must make at least one change to their side for tonight’s crunch t20 clash with fellow high-fliers Essex at The Ageas Bowl.

Sohail Tanvir is unavailable as he has been called up to the Pakistan squad for their two t20 internationals against the West Indies. The seamer’s call-up also means he will not be available for the holders’ t20 match against Kent at Canterbury on Monday night either. Tanvir took a season’s best 3-29 against Kent at The Ageas Bowl last Sunday, and has eight t20 wickets at 25.87 in all this season.

David Griffiths is the likely replacement if Hampshire bring in another seamer.

Wicketkeeper Adam Wheater is included in the squad after not playing against Kent and he could feature against his old club tomorrow, in place of Michael Bates. Essex are likely to be unchanged from the side that beat Sussex by seven wickets on Sunday. New-Zealander Hamish Rutherford and Australian fast-bowler Shaun Tait are both likely to feature for the visitors. Hampshire squad: Jimmy Adams, Sean Ervine, Liam Dawson, James Vince, Michael Carberry, Michael Bates, Dimitri Mascarenhas, David Griffiths, Danny Briggs, Chris Wood, Adam Wheater, Neil McKenzie.