Shaun Udal is looking forward to another "competitive" showdown with Sussex in tonight's Twenty20 opener at Arundel.

Udal will captain Hampshire in the absence of Shane Warne as the Hawks aim to avenge their C & G Trophy exit against Sussex at Hove two weeks ago.

Dominic Thornely was allegedly spat at by a spectator as Hampshire crashed out of the C & G Trophy by five wickets and with an over to spare under the Hove floodlights.

Thornely responded by throwing his Hampshire cap at the spectator, an action for which he has since apologised, while Shane Warne accused James Kirtley of bowling with an illegal action after the match.

Captain Udal said: "Sussex are probably the most competitive side we've played against this season and that's because both sides are full of winners.

"They're led by a fighter and a winner in Chris Adams and Shane Warne has made us even more competitive over the last few years and we've responded to that.

"I won't deny that there have been a couple of incidents between the sides in recent years.

"But no one has stepped over the mark but nothing that has been included in umpires' reports or anything like that."

Sussex captain Adams said that he had lost respect for Warne after a championship draw at Hove at the beginning of last season.

And during a Twenty20 Cup game at Hove last July Hampshire lost a game reduced to 12 overs-a-side after a controversial decision to give Craig McMillan out.

This season Hampshire have lost both of their games against Sussex, by 94 runs in the championship at The Rose Bowl in April as well as the C & G Trophy exit.

Now they are gunning for revenge at Arundel.

"We've had some fantastic games of cricket because both sets of players give 110 per cent, but we're looking forward to the Twenty20 Cup because it helps us release the inhibitions you sometimes have when you're playing in the county championship," added Udal.

Hampshire have been encouraged by winning their final C & G Trophy game of the season against Glamorgan on Sunday.

But they are without James Tomlinson, who strained a thigh muscle in recording career best figures of 4-27.

Chris Benham is set for his Twenty20 debut after his unbeaten 73 against Glamorgan, while there are places in the 13 for Durham University student David Balcombe and Twenty20 specialist Mitchell Stokes.

Hampshire are without Warne and James Bruce (both shoulder), while Sean Ervine (knee) is also rested.

But they have an excellent record at Arundel, where C & G Trophy finalists Sussex lost their final South Conference game by just two runs against Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Hampshire have not played at Arundel since 1998 but have never lost in five matches (three county championship and two one-day).

Hampshire (from): Carberry, Stokes, Benham, Lamb, Thornely, McLean, Pothas, Mascarenhas, Udal, Tremlett, Taylor, Balcombe.

Sussex (from): Prior, Yardy, Adams, Goodwin, Heather, Hopkinson,Martin-Jenkins, Wright, Mushtaq Ahmed, Kirtley, Yasir Arafat, Rayner.