JOHN Hastings is set to make his first appearance for Worcestershire against Somerset at Taunton Vale later this week.
The Australian all-rounder remains on target to be available for the opening Specsavers County Championship match of the season versus Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium on April 14 after undergoing winter patella tendon surgery.
But director of cricket Steve Rhodes confirmed Hastings would play some part as a batsman in either of the two one-day matches against Somerset on March 30 and 31.
Rhodes said: "With John Hastings, the news is good. He is well on target for the first game of the season.
"We are very optimistic he will play some cricket in the Leeds-Bradford game (from April 7 to 9).
"He will play some part in the Gloucestershire friendly at RGS Worcester (April 3 and 4) and also he will play a bit as a batter in one of the games versus Somerset at Taunton.
"He has come over early to try and make sure his last stages of rehab are done with us and in English conditions."
Rhodes has been impressed already with Hastings' attitude and determination to succeed.
He said: "When myself and (skipper) Joe Leach first met him, we couldn't believe the burning enthusiasm that this guy has got for playing for Worcestershire and how he wants to perform and help us do well.
"He knows a lot about the dressing room, he knows a lot about the players, and he is an ideal man to be our overseas player."
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