Imran Tahir is expected to make his first Hampshire appearance for three years tomorrow as the county aim for the win which would secure them promotion from the second tier of the County Championship.

The 35-year-old leg spinner’s fourth stint with Hampshire is a big boost as he is available for the game against Kent at The Ageas Bowl, starting tomorrow, and next week’s season finale against Glamorgan in Cardiff.

With leaders Worcestershire and third placed Essex due to play each other next week, Hampshire know a second Championship win of the season against Kent will see them reclaim the top flight status they lost in 2011.

Tahir’s availability is the good news for Hampshire; the bad news is that they will have to do without opening batsman Michael Carberry for the last two games after he suffered a hand injury in training.

Sean Terry and Tom Alsop have been called up to the 13-man squad.

Hampshire have won their last two Championship games – beating Kent at Canterbury thanks to career best bowling from Chris Wood and hammering Leicestershire with skipper Jimmy Adams hitting 231.

Hampshire batsman Will Smith admits: “We’d rather be in our position than the other teams chasing promotion.

“We had a bit of a blip in mid-season but we’ve put that behind us with two wins and we are hitting good form at the right time.

“To have Immy (Tahir) with us is fantastic – everyone gets on really well with him and just to have his enthusiasm around the team will give everyone that boost, alongside taking a few wickets as well.”

Smith, in his debut campaign for the county after leaving Durham, is just 15 runs away from reaching 1,000 Championship runs in a season for the first time.

Tahir made his first Hampshire appearance in 2008, and has had two further spells with the county.

He was part of the team which won the 2009 C & G Trophy while he also had a short stint in 2011, his last appearance coming in August 2011 in an innings victory against Somerset at Taunton.

Hampshire (from): Will Smith, Jimmy Adams, Sean Ervine, Liam Dawson, Tom Alsop, Sean Terry, James Vince, Danny Briggs, James Tomlinson, Chris Wood, Matt Coles, Adam Wheater, Imran Tahir.