SOMERSET travel to Leicestershire for what looks like a must-win match this weekend (April 22-25).

It’s early days in this season’s LV= Insurance County Championship, of course, but Somerset - runners-up in domestic red-ball competition in the past three seasons - are already playing catch-up after last week’s chastening home defeat against Gloucestershire.

READ MORE: Gloucestershire stroll to eight-wicket win in Taunton

The result leaves them fourth in Group 2, on 17 points (having been deducted eight points going into the season), with both Hampshire (46 points) and Gloucestershire (44 points) having won their opening two fixtures.

Only the top two teams progress to Division 1 of the Championship come the second phase of the competition, so Somerset will look to make up ground as they face Leicestershire - a team they have not played in First-Class cricket since 2007 - while Hampshire and Gloucestershire play each other.

Leicestershire began this season with an innings defeat against Hampshire, before drawing with Surrey last time out.

There is just one change to the Somerset squad from the Gloucestershire match, with seam bowler Jack Brooks coming in for batsman Eddie Byrom.

Somerset squad: Tom Abell (c), Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Jack Brooks, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, Marchant de Lange, Lewis Gregory, James Hildreth, Tom Lammonby, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe.