SOMERSET’S fight for survival in Division One of the LV County Championship reaches a crunch time this week as they take on second from bottom Hampshire at Taunton, starting today (Wednesday).

Hampshire trail Somerset by just five points with three matches left to play and a victory at Taunton would see them leapfrog Matt Maynard’s men into the safety of seventh place.

Somerset will be hoping to avoid any hangover from last week’s thrashing at the hands of table-topping Yorkshire, after going down by an innings and 126 runs at Headingley, while Hampshire will be looking to recreate the kind of form that saw them topple Durham by seven wickets in their last outing.

A win for Somerset would open up some much-needed breathing space heading into their final two fixtures, which see them travel to Sussex before hosting Warwickshire in the season finale.

Play gets under way at 10.30am.