ESSEX head coach Paul Grayson has admitted former skipper Mark Pettini has not scored enough runs so far this season.
Pettini, 29, was left out of the side for the LV> County Championship clash with Lancashire which started on Wednesday after just 222 runs in 12 Championship innings so far this season.
His 88 against Derbyshire at Leek in the YB40 on Sunday was the first time he had passed 50 since the University match with Cambridge UCCE in April.
And with Owais Shah making his first four-day appearance of the season and a Championship debut for new overseas signing Hamish Rutherford, Pettini is the man who has made way.
Grayson said: "Mark Pettini's unfortunately missing out.
"He's played quite well in a couple of games, he's got us over the line in a couple of matches, especially down at the SWALEC and against Hampshire, but I think also Mark realises that he hasn't scored the volume of runs that he would like to have done, especially batting in the key positions of number four or five.
"The guys knew that when Shah and Ryan ten Doeschate came back from the IPL – and with Hamish joining as well – that they were going to have to fight for their place in their side.
"We look strong on paper this week and we're looking for a really positive performance against Lancashire this week."
In fact, Shah and ten Doeschate were tasked with a rebuilding job as the Chronicle went to press, with openers Tom Westley and Jaik Mickelburgh as well as Rutherford falling early on as Essex slumped to 13-3 after being put in by Lancashire.
Grayson has been pleased with his side's recent form, and with the Friends Life t20 just around the corner, the mood inside the camp is a positive one.
"There's still a lot of areas to improve on," he added. "Everyone's honest that we didn't start the season well enough, but there was no panic. I've got a lot of belief and confidence in the players and they've responded very well in all formats of cricket, we've played very well of late and we've got to keep that going.
"There's still a lot of cricket to be played in the County Championship, we haven't started the T20 yet but we sit nicely in the YB40 despite the defeat on Sunday.
"We're slowly but surely becoming more consistent as a group and that's the aim of everyone in the dressing room."
As well as Rutherford, the Eagles squad will be joined by former Australia seamer Shaun Tait for the T20 campaign, and Grayson revealed the 30-year-old is set to join the squad this week.
"Shaun will probably join us at some stage at the back end of the week," he said. "It'll be good to see him, he knows quite a few of the boys.
"He's looking forward to playing some cricket, he'll be doing a little bit of work with us over the next ten days to sharpen up and then hopefully he'll be ready and firing for the first game against Hampshire."
But for now the focus remains on the City of Chelmsford Festival, which also includes a YB40 game with Lancashire on Sunday. And with it being Father's Day, Grayson is hoping a big crowd will be present to see the game.
"Chelmsford's always a good place to watch cricket – a nice ground and small ground so you always get a good view from where you sit. Hopefully there will be some good cricket on show from both sides and let's hope we get a decent crowd there to appreciate that."