Director of cricket Steve Rhodes has backed Worcestershire to defy the doubters by avoiding relegation from Division One of the LV= County Championship this season.

The New Road outfit were pre-season favourites to finish bottom of Division Two last year, but they caused a surprise by finishing second and gaining promotion.

This time around, they are among the favourites to be demoted, but Rhodes believes that the young squad are capable of surviving.

"I heard quite a few people tipping us to finish bottom of Division Two last season, and we ended up coming second and getting promoted," he told the ECB's official website.

"I'm pretty sure we'll be predicted to come bottom again this year, especially as it's Division One. But who knows?

"You've got to hang your basket on something, and ours is that we earned promotion with some very talented young players who are very much on the rise. If collectively they can continue to improve as players, we'll have a decent chance."

Worcestershire begin their campaign against defending champions Yorkshire on April 12.