Mark Davis has told Sussex’s fringe pacemen to grab their chance.

The county are plotting a promotion charge, despite the impending loss of strike bowler Vernon Philander, pictured, to international duty.

There is also doubt over the participation of Steve Magoffin, who has had a scan on an Achilles problem.

Sussex do not have the funds to replace Philander with an overseas player when he leaves after the Specsavers County Championship clash with Leicestershire, which starts on Friday.

But Davis believes they have the required firepower in-house. The head coach said: “We don’t have the budget to get another overseas player in.

“It is great to have Vern now and it suited both parties. When he goes, we are going to play our lads.

“I think that’s good because we will get more of our young players into the team.

“We’ve got the likes of Stu Whittingham, who is playing in the second team. George Garton is back from England Lions next week as well.

“We have young fast bowlers we want to blood. Getting someone in to replace Vern isn’t going to happen.

“We have certainly got enough and we will use what we have to be an effective team.”

South African hitman Philander is second among Sussex wicket-takers in the Championship this term with 15 at 24.8 apiece. Jofra Archer has 24 victims at 27.9.

The second XI also return to action on Friday with a T20 against Kent at East Grinstead.