Mick Newell content with Nottinghamshire attack

Ryan Sidebottom is enjoying his benefit year with Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell says his side have the strength in depth to cope without their England bowlers.

Ryan Sidebottom is in the Notts squad for their opening four-day game against Kent, but fellow England duo Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann will not play.

He said: "Had Ryan not been available, we'd have been confident that we had four quick bowlers who could do a job.

"He needs to get a run out, we'll take advantage of his availability."

Sidebottom joins England team-mates, including Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, in playing for their clubs in the early rounds of this summer's County Championship.

The paceman played in England's final Test in South Africa in the winter and missed the trip to Bangladesh through injury, but Newell is wary that Sidebottom could still have a part to play for his country.

"Ryan's in an interesting situation, he's in the World Twenty20 squad, and if he goes well out there we hope he can retain his place in the Test squad," Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"He's said he hasn't played enough cricket over the past year, so hopefully that can benefit us.

"I wouldn't expect to see much of Broad and Swann this season [with Notts], but Ryan's playing this week against Kent and maybe we'll see more of him."

Notts have finished as runners-up to Durham in the last two seasons and could challenge again following the signings of Neil Edwards, Steven Mullaney and Graeme White - together with overseas stars Hashim Amla and David Hussey.

Captain Chris Read leads the side for the second season, but is not convinced that it will again be a straight fight between Notts and Will Smith's men for the title.

He said: "I think at this stage of the season it's not just Durham. I think there are any number of counties that will fancy their chances but Durham over the past two seasons have been the form horses and look a very strong unit."

Darren Pattinson will miss Notts' Championship opener after aggravating an ankle injury in net practice.

Andre Adams replaces Pattinson in a team otherwise unchanged from the draw with Durham UCCE.

Edwards and Bilal Shafayat will open the batting for Nottinghamshire with Amla and Mark Wagh completing the top four.

BBC Radio Nottingham will have ball-by-ball commentary on every Nottinghamshire County Championship and Twenty20 Cup game online at bbc.co.uk/nottingham