Tony Rhodes in bowls trial run

One member of bowls' "Shropshire six" will have a trial run on the host green of the All England Finals – the night before the national showpiece begins.

Tony Rhodes, one of a sextet of county bowlers heading to Meole Brace for the sport's premier event on Saturday, has been given the green light to play at the venue for St Georges tomorrow night.

The two teams go head-to-head in the Furrows Shropshire Premier League.

And while British Crown Green Bowling Association rules state that no player can practice at the venue after sealing his qualification, the fact this is a long-standing fixture arranged before the finalists were known means Rhodes is eligible to play.

"It was something I checked out," said Rhodes. "I didn't want to presume that I could play and then find out I was it was a problem because the All England is such a big day.

"I rang up Barry Jennings (Shropshire-based BCGBA president) who checked it out for me and it's fine.

"I'm not sure it will be too much of an advantage. It will give me an idea of the pace of the green for the following day but the other players will pick that up within two or three ends anyway."

After his side's clash at Meole Brace, Rhodes will be hoping for a quiet evening as he is on call throughout the night in his role as a BT systems operations manager in Oswestry.