Cameron Bancroft is on standby to keep wicket for Gloucestershire in the Specsavers County Championship match with Worcestershire at the Brightside Ground, Bristol, starting on Sunday.

The Australian top order batsman, in his first season with the club, is likely be behind the stumps if skipper Gareth Roderick fails a fitness test on a finger injury suffered on the final day of the drawn match with Derbyshire.

The damage was being assessed today, but Gloucestershire will take no risks with Roderick, who has a history of finger problems. He is the only specialist wicketkeeper on the staff.

While a loan signing is an option, Bancroft, who is playing as overseas signing until Michael Klinger returns in mid-May, took over when Roderick was forced off the field against Derbyshire and is a capable keeper.

Head coach Richard Dawson said: “We knew when we signed Cameron that he would give us cover with the gloves.

“We want to allow 24 hours for the injury to Gareth’s finger to settle and will then have a better idea of how bad it is."

Craig Miles appeared as a substitute fielder against Derbyshire, but the highly-rated young seamer is not yet ready for Championship action as he completes recovery from a side injury.

Will Tavare is also ruled out of the Worcestershire game with the knee problem that sidelined him against Derbyshire.

Benny Howell will have a fitness test on a stiff back, but Gloucestershire have a new option in their latest recruit Graeme van Buuren, a South African who qualifies as non-overseas signing through his British wife.

The 25-year-old, who played for Titans and Northerns back home, bats middle order and bowls left-arm spin.

Young batsman George Hankins, a product of the Academy, could also be in the squad following some impressive second XI displays in pre-season.

“We have good competition for places, with several lads in the second XI pushing for selection,” said Dawson.

“There were a lot of positives for us to take from the Derbyshire game, which we took control of after they won the toss and put us under pressure with a big score.

“Our bowlers stuck at it really well and the batsmen responded to them having posted 400-plus with an even bigger score.”