ASSISTANT coach Matt Mason predicts Worcestershire Rapids will deliver a vastly improved display in tomorrow’s Royal London One-Day Cup derby against rivals Warwickshire at New Road (11am).

Rapids suffered their first defeat of the season in a 152-run battering against Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Worcestershire were the last side of the 18 first-class records to lose their unbeaten record in 2017 against the Red Rose county.

But Rapids are second in the north group and on the verge of qualification for the quarter-finals with three matches remaining in section.

Warwickshire have had a poor start to the season and are bottom of the group with just one win and five defeats from their six matches.

"It was our sloppiest performance in the field (against Lancashire) and I think against the Bears you’ll see a much better performance,” reflected Mason, who is also Worcestershire’s bowling coach.

"We were off our best probably in the field, at times with the ball and certainly with the bat.

"We had a quick chat and we’re very keen to move on from it.

"We’ve had some very good performances this year and we now want to prepare for the Bears.

"Lancashire were very good with the ball. Obviously Jimmy Anderson is class but they executed those skills better than us, too.”

England all-rounder Moeen Ali is available for Worcestershire and will be keen to impress with the ICC Champions Trophy taking place next month.

Moeen scored five runs and took 1-75 from 10 overs against Lancashire and will be determined to shine against his former club.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes is expected to keep faith with the same squad, which includes bowler Jack Shantry.

There is likely to be no place for Tom Fell, who hit an unbeaten century for Worcestershire Seconds this week.

Warwickshire's bowling coach is Alan Richardson who enjoyed four highly successful seasons with Worcestershire, taking 254 first-class wickets at 22.07 runs.

And Richardson believes the West Midlands derby will be as competitive as ever.

"I've sat on both sides of the fence and know how much it means," he said.

"For the players, it's an opportunity to play in front of a big crowd where the game means a lot to the supporters on both sides.

"It has that added spice. There is a little bit of feeling because the clubs are so different."

He added: “Some Warwickshire supporters might regard Worcester as the country bumpkins down the road and the Worcester members talk about the city boys and see it very much as an underdog thing. They really want to beat the bigger club up the road.”

Worcestershire (expected squad) from: Moeen Ali, Kohler-Cadmore, Mitchell, Clarke, D’Oliveira, Cox, Whiteley, Barnard, Leach (captain), Hastings, Tongue, Shantry.

Warwickshire from: Bell (captain), Adair, Ambrose, Barker, Clarke, Hain, Hannon-Dalby, Javid, Lamb, Patel, Poysden, Singh, Thornton, Thomason, Trott.