Worcestershire star Joe Leach is set make his first Shrewsbury appearance since the opening day of the season when the Birmingham League premier division leaders travel to lowly Wolverhampton on Saturday.

It's part one of a key Bank Holiday double header for the county towners who host Barnt Green at London Road on Monday as they bid to stay clear of the chasing pack.

It's a three-horse race for the title with Shrewsbury, beaten by two wickets at home by Knowle & Dorridge last weekend, 13 points clear of Berkswell and 19 points better off than K&D in third.

The availability of Leach - who has taken more than 50 wickets for Worcestershire in the first division of the County Championship this season - is a huge boost for Shrewsbury following last weekend's setback.

Ed Barnard, another Worcestershire player, is also set to return along with influential allrounder Steve Barnard.

"It will be great to see Joe again," said Shrewsbury captain Rob Foster. "He played for us in the first league game this season at West Bromwich Dartmouth but he's been unavailable since then with his Worcestershire commitments.

"He's having a fantastic season and to have taken more than 50 wickets in the first division and to be in the top four or five bowlers at that level is a great effort.

"I've always believed in Joe and backed him to do well, but perhaps he's even surpassed his own expectations."

Wicketkeeper Anthony Parker will be missing owing to his role as a groundsman at Wolves while youngster George Panayi is ruled out as he's attending an England under-17 training camp.

Shrewsbury will finalise the team to face Barnt Green on Monday following the Wolverhampton game, but Foster thinks Leach and potentially Ed Barnard will not be available for that one as Worcestershire begin a four-day Championship game against Sussex the following day.

Foster stressed the two games over the Bank Holiday weekend are significant in shaping Shrewsbury's title hopes.

"We were disappointed to lose last Saturday but it's still in our hands," he said. "If we win our last four games then we win the league.

"Wolverhampton are fighting for survival and they'll be desperate to stay in the premier division so they've got everything to play for.

"We've then got Barnt Green who have got some very dangerous cricketers. Sometimes when teams don't have an awful lot to play for it can make them more tricky to play against."