The first piece of bad news for Surrey is that Chris Rogers, who opted against taking part in the Friends Provident T20 - citing the fact that he had not had a break from cricket for two years - returns as opener and captain for Derbyshire. In case you have forgotten, when the Oval outfit played host to Derbyshire at the start of the season, the 32-year-old left-hander made 200 followed by an unbeaten 140. The slightly better omen is that Rogers has only made two more championship hundreds since then.

The second and third bits of bad news are that Jade Dernbach is ruled out through injury and Steven Davies will miss this contest, not mention Surrey's next three FPT20 fixtures, after being called up to represent the England Lions in the triangular A team tournament with India and the West Indies.

When the break in the championship calendar arrived, second to Rogers (865 championship runs at an average of 72.08) in Derbyshire's batting averages was 19-year-old West Indian, Chesney Hughes. But the two left-handers' fellow batsmen have lacked consistency; which explains why Derbyshire have recruited Wes Durston, who moves across from Somerset via the Unicorns. In ten FPT20 outings, Durston has averaged 46.00 with the bat, so looks almost certain to make his championship debut for the county tomorrow.

With the ball, Tim Groenewald has not managed to carry the form he showed last term into this season and Graham Wagg is out with a calf injury, so Derbyshire are likely to start with the fit again Tom Lungley, left-armer Mark Footit and the ever dependable Steffan Jones, while Robin Peterson (36 championship wickets at 25.55 runs apiece) will provide the spin threat.

Younis Khan looks set to make his 150th first-class appearance. Surrey's Chris Tremlett has 299 f-c career wickets. Of the Derbyshire contingent, Tom Lungley has 147 f-c scalps, while Greg Smith has so far collected 95 wickets. Finally, Wes Durston looks set to make a first championship bow for his second county.

Judging by the line-up announced for Surrey's second eleven game against the Minor Counties, which also begins tomorrow, Jason Roy and Stuart Meaker will miss out, in spite of Usman Afzaal's indifferent form with the bat and the absence of leading wicket-taker Jade Dernbach, who suffered an intercostal strain in the T20 match against Middlesex at Lord's. Gary Wilson will deputise for Steven Davies behind the timbers.

The weather forecast for day two looks a bit iffy. That said, three out of the last five championship fixtures at Queens Park, Chesterfield have ended well inside the distance. Derbyshire go into this encounter with three defeats in their last five in the championship. Furthermore, the Falcons have struggled for consistency in the FPT20. So, if anything, Surrey are looking in finer fettle. Had Jade Dernbach been available for the visitors I would be confidently saying "Surrey win", without him Tim Linley will have to turn in the sort of performance he gave in the victory at Northampton. Now, go for it Linners!

C Rogers (capt), W Madsen, W Durston, G Park, G Smith, C Hughes, R Peterson, L Goddard (wk), S Jones, T Lungley and M Footit.

Mark Benson and Nigel Cowley.

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