SOMERSET captain Tom Abell has described this week's clash against Middlesex in Taunton as "hands down the biggest game of his career" as the hosts seek the win they need to stay in Division One of the County Championship.

The hosts go into the game 13 points adrift of safety, meaning only a victory will do if they are to preserve their status as the longest-serving side in the top tier.

Looking ahead to the match, Abell said: "We are fully aware of the situation we are in, there is no getting away from it.

"We are going into it looking to put them under pressure and get the win - there are a number of things to think about, but if we can do that the bonus points will look after themselves."

The 2016 champions picked up a crucial victory over Lancashire at Lord's last week, with Steven Finn taking eight second innings wickets, while across the capital Somerset were falling to a damaging defeat against Surrey to dampen the momentum built by victories over Warwickshire and Lancashire.

Reflecting on last week's reverse, Abell said: "There was one big difference between the sides, and that was Kumar Sangakkara.

"Credit to Tres [Marcus Trescothick] and Eddie [Byrom], who gave us a solid platform, and I didn't actually think 270 was too bad a score.

"We then beat the bat as often as I have seen us do all year, but they got ahead of the eight-ball and it was difficult for us to come back from that."

At the age of 23, Abell has had a demanding first year in the hotseat but is encouraging his side to play without fear despite the pressure that comes with knowing the consequences of failing to win.

"I said before the Warwickshire game that I wanted our batsmen to play with freedom and I don't want them to have that fear of failure," Abell said.

"We want to express ourselves and combine that with the fight and attitude we have shown in recent weeks."

When the fixtures were released over the winter, many supporters had earmarked this week's match at the Cooper Associates County Ground as a potential title-decider, but the reality is anything but due to each side failing to live up to last year's performances.

On the importance of this week's clash, Abell said: "It's hands down the biggest game I've played in for Somerset.

"Last year was a very different challenge, but this is just as - if not more - important and we are fully focused on doing what we have to do.

"We know, particularly as batsmen, that we haven't peformed as we would have liked to this year and we are disappointed in the position we are in.

"That said, we have the opportunity to do something special this week and I think if we pulled it off it would give everyone massive confidence.

"Our supporters have been fully behind us this year. We hugely appreciate that and look forward to the crowd being with us this week - rest assured, we will be doing our best to get the win."

All-rounder Peter Trego, who took a five-wicket haul and scored 68 last week at The Oval, is described as "touch and go" to play this week and will have a fitness test tomorrow morning - Roelof van der Merwe would be the likely replacement.

Somerset squad: Tom Abell (c), Marcus Trescothick, Eddie Byrom, George Bartlett, James Hildreth, Steve Davies (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Tim Groenewald, Paul van Meekeren, Peter Trego.