Bopara is our reference point - Key

Rob Key (centre) leads a Lions XI brimful of international hopefuls in a four-day encounter against West Indies at Derby

Buy this photo

Rob Key will only need to mention the new additions to England's squad for the opening npower Test to provide inspiration to his Lions side on duty against West Indies at Derby.

The Kent captain has again been given the opportunity to lead England's second-string in tomorrow's four-day match at the County Ground.

If they needed confirmation that the Lions was a stepping stone to senior England recognition, they received it today with Durham's Graham Onions and Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan receiving their first Test call-up - while Ravi Bopara was confirmed as the number three batsman at Lord's next week.

All three have featured for the Lions in recent years with Essex all-rounder Bopara being taken off their tour of New Zealand this winter to join up with the senior party in the Caribbean, where he scored a century in his only Test at Barbados.

Key said: "If you look at the Test squad it's got Tim Bresnan in it, who was the pick of the bowlers in the MCC game at the start of the season, which is effectively the Lions.

"He has now been called up and things like that add importance to games like this because it tells us all that if we go out and perform we've got a good chance of getting in."

Key will lead out a strong Lions team including at least one player on the periphery in Ian Bell, who was left out of today's England squad.

Several other players who have recent international experience - Lancashire's Sajid Mahmood, Durham's Liam Plunkett, Warwickshire's Tim Ambrose and Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel - are also named in the XI.

Ian Bell should slot in at three for the Lions after being omitted from England's squad for the Lord's Test

Buy this photo

Key could also include himself in that bracket as England prepare to name their Twenty20 and one-day squads on Friday.

Key admitted: "These games are all about individual agendas, which I don't think is a bad thing.

"If your agenda is to go out and score as many runs as you possibly can to get yourself in the England team then I'll take that.

"From a captaincy point of view, if there are people wanting to stake a claim and get into that England team, my job is all about making sure they get that opportunity.

"It's not about whipping someone out of the attack if they bowl two bad overs, it's about trying to give everyone a fair crack at it. That's the way I see these games and by doing that it's a pretty easy thing to manage."

Key was also in the running for the number three vacancy alongside former captain Michael Vaughan and Bell, but he believes the selectors have chosen the right man to take them forward in Bopara.

"I think he'll be one of England's premier batsmen for the next 10 years,” said Key.

"I think players like him and KP (Pietersen) can set the world alight as far as batting goes in the international game.

"I suppose as soon as he gets that exposure and the sooner he becomes accustomed to it, the more return on that investment England will get.

"I know Ravi pretty well and as a bloke I think he's an impressive character. He doesn't take things too seriously, which I always think is the most important thing and doesn't get too worked up about stuff.

"He also shows a true belief in his ability. The guys who get really worried and really down about things are the ones you sometimes think that self-confidence and that belief is probably not there as much as it should be."

Key believes Ravi Bopara, a centurion in Barbados over the winter, was the correct call for the first npower Test

Key's Lions side will face a West Indies line-up strengthened by the return of fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who was allowed to stay behind in the Caribbean to overcome a niggle and is expected to play his first match of the tour.

The tourists are expected to play virtually their Test line-up, although captain Chris Gayle and strike bowler Fidel Edwards are still absent on Indian Premier League duty and will not turn up until next Monday.

Having had the majority of their previous warm-up match against Essex in Chelmsford washed out, they are keen to get a good work-out under their belts before they arrive at Lord's for the start of the two-Test series.

West Indies stand-in captain Denesh Ramdin said: "The Lions team is very strong.

“Ian Bell is in there and a number of other players who have already played at the highest level so our bowlers will get a good chance to get their lines and lengths right."