Murray Goodwin believes his side's brave performance in Wednesday's C&G Trophy quarter-final can give them an important lift ahead of their crucial Championship road trip.

The county lost by 14 runs to Surrey, but won plenty of admirers when Goodwin scored his second century in four days as they chased a mammoth total of 337-3. Now it's back to four-day action starting against Somerset at Taunton today and continuing when they head straight from the West Country to Edgbaston to face Warwickshire next Wednesday.

Sussex are sixth in Division One, but just nine points separate third-placed Hampshire from Somerset who are three points below Sussex in seventh.

Goodwin said: "This is an important road trip for us. We've got to at least win one of the next two or get a couple of good draws so we can take advantage of the fact that we've got a lot of home games coming up after that.

"The good thing is that we've got a lot of guys who are in form which is encouraging at this stage of the season. I think the people who came along on Wednesday could see that and hopefully it will continue."

Sussex are likely to name the same XI who batted for the best part of two days to stave off defeat against Kent at Hove last week, although Tony Cottey has been added to the squad.

Somerset are definitely without their injured England pair Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick while former Middlesex paceman Richard Johnson is another doubt.

Sussex (probable): Montgomerie, Goodwin, Adams, Yardy, Ambrose, Martin-Jenkins, Prior, Innes, Davis, Taylor, Lewry, Cottey.