Gloucestershire are considering a gamble on the fitness of swing bowler Mike Smith for next Saturday's B&H Cup final at Lord's.

The 33-year-old left-armer could be pressed into service against Surrey despite having played only one match so far this season because of a groin injury.

Smith, who has been on the county staff since 1991 and is in his benefit year, had a cortisone injection last week in the hope that it will enable him to play.

"It is normally 10 days before you are allowed to do anything with it - 10 days from the injection is Saturday, the day of the final, and I wouldn't rule him out," said John Bracewell, the county's Director of Cricket.

Gloucestershire have won five one-day trophies in the past two seasons and Smith has proved a potent weapon on previous visits to Lord's

He took three for 25 in the 1999 NatWest Trophy final against Somerset and did even better last summer with figures of three for 18 against Warwickshire.

"If the humid conditions of the last two weeks continue, then Mike Smith is probably the best new ball bowler in the country to suit Lord's," Bracewell added.

"If there is a weakness in the Surrey line-up, it's their ability to play swing bowling."

Gloucestershire's seam attack will, however, be minus Jonathan Lewis (back problem) and Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey is not 100 per cent fit because of a hand injury.