Tim Ambrose has the chance to get his season up and running at Canterbury tonight.

With Matt Prior on England duty, Ambrose will open the batting and keep wicket in Sussex's must-win Twenty20 Cup tie against Kent (5.30pm). Ambrose has been told to play his own game and not try to emulate the big-hitting Prior at the top of the order.

Skipper Chris Adams said: "Tim has opened for us before in one-day cricket and made a success of it.

"We won't be asking him to go out and try and be like Matt. He's a more orthodox player but he's capable of scoring quickly and hitting the ball a long way."

Robin Martin-Jenkins also comes into contention for the first time this season although Sussex are likely to keep changes to a minimum.

The all-rounder replaces Jason Lewry who will play for the seconds today in a one-day match against Surrey at Cheam.

The Sharks have to win their last two matches to have a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals after another frustrating washout at Hove last night.

Just seven overs were possible against Middlesex before play was abandoned at 8.25pm with the visitors 56-1 from seven overs.

Sussex (from): Ambrose, Ward, Adams, Goodwin, Yardy, Hopkinson, Wright, Davis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Rana Naved, Kirtley, Martin-Jenkins.