REECE TOPLEY will defy back pain as he helps Sussex go for Vitality Blast glory.

The former England bowler requires pain killers to play and train.

He is likely to be involved when holders Worcestershire visit Hove for a quarter-final tonight (7pm).

But Sussex are expected to resist any temptation to use him in their three remaining Championship matches.

Head coach Jason Gillespie said: “At the moment, we are focused on the back issues he has had.

“We have been very conservative in how we manage him.

“The bloke has had five sets of stress fractures and he is having to have injections just to bowl at training. There is something not quite right.

“We have rested him from the odd Blast game, just to make sure.”

The former Australia fast bowler added: “I never like to refer back to my playing days but I have empathy and sympathy.

“As he has gone through the tournament and has got more confident, it has been great to see.

“He has put in some really good performances for us.”