SOMERSET'S chances of picking up a first County Championship win of 2017 have been boosted by the return of Lewis Gregory, who is back in the squad for the visit of Hampshire tomorrow (Friday).

The all-rounder, who turned 25 yesterday, has been struggling with a back injury but, having had an injection, is now back to fitness and in contention to play his first match since the one-day victory against Kent on May 2.

Gregory's introduction in place of Jim Allenby is the only change to the 13-man squad that was picked prior to the Warwickshire game, which ended in a rain-affected draw.

Hampshire finished second bottom last season and only Durham's financial woes spared them relegation, but they look stronger this time around and sit fifth going into the weekend - though they were thumped by an innings and 97 runs at early Division One pace-setters Essex last time out.

Experienced former Australian international George Bailey captains the south coast side, who travel without injured West Indian fast bowler Fidel Edwards.

Rilee Roussouw, whose stunning 156 helped Hampshire to a four-wicket win at the Cooper Associates County Ground in the Royal London One-Day Cup just over a fortnight ago, joins fellow South African dangerman Kyle Abbott in the visiting line-up.

Both matches between the two clubs ended drawn last season, with August's match at Taunton most notable for Craig Overton's maiden First Class century as Somerset racked up 587-8 in reply to Hampshire's 313, though the visitors comfortably batted out day four to claim a share of the spoils.

Play starts at 11am tomorrow, and the squads are as follows:

Somerset: Tom Abell (c), Marcus Trescothick, Dean Elgar, James Hildreth, Steve Davies (wk), Peter Trego, Lewis Gregory, Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Jack Leach, Tim Groenewald, Dom Bess.

Hampshire: George Bailey (c), Michael Carberry, Liam Dawson, Jimmy Adams, James Vince, Rilee Rossouw, Sean Ervine, Lewis McManus (wk), Gareth Berg, Kyle Abbott, Mason Crane, Reece Topley, Ian Holland.