DERBYSHIRE V SURREY at Derby (LVCC2), 21-24 JUNE 2015

Fourth plays host to second in Division Two, with both sides coming into the match on the back of chastening defeats.

Derbyshire have arguably the best seam attack in Division Two when Mark Footitt (32 championship wickets at 24.81 runs apiece), Tony Palladino and Wayne White (13 wickets at 14.92) are all on the same page. 20-year-old Tom Taylor has already established himself as an excellent back-up, but looks likely, on this occasion, to miss out to Shiv Thakor, who offers more with the bat.

Unfortunately, for the Peakites, the batting has been shaky. Hamish Rutherford is the latest overseas to be recruited in the hope of shoring things up. That said, Billy Godleman (442 championship runs at an average of 49.11, including five half-centuries), has enjoyed a resurgence this season and skipper Wayne Madsen remains a class act. If only Durston, Hughes and Slater were more consistent, Derbyshire might just be in a position to flirt with promotion.

If they play, Sam Curran and Dean Elgar will be making their first-class debuts for Surrey. Meanwhile, Tom Curran (48) is approaching 50 f-c career wickets, Tim Linley (199) his 200th and Gary Wilson (2,939) has an eye on 3,000 first-class runs. New Zealand's Hamish Rutherford looks set to make his f-c debut for Derbyshire.

Sadly, it's quicker to list the Surrey players who are fit, available and in form. South Africa's Dean Elgar has been drafted in as overseas player in the absence of Kumar Sangakkara, who is expected to announce his retirement from international cricket next week, and Moises Henriques, who is recovering from a broken jaw. Sam Curran, who, if he plays, will be the second youngest player to make his first-class debut for Surrey, is in the 13-man squad as cover. Tim Linley has been recalled from his loan to Sussex. Even the on loan Luke Fletcher, who broke down after six overs at Beckenham last month, is in the reckoning for a place due to injuries to seamers Jade Dernbach, Matt Dunn and Chris Tremlett.

The weather forecast for all four days is cloudy, but dry. This is a crucial game for two sides currently licking their wounds. Surrey's record against Derbyshire in recent years has been pretty good, but such is the extent of their injury list, I just can't see the Oval outfit getting anything more than a draw from this contest. Prediction - Derbyshire win.

B Slater, B Godleman, C Hughes, H Rutherford, W Madsen (capt), W Durston, S Thakor, T Poynton (wk), W White, T Palladino and M Footitt.

Nick Cook and Peter Hartley.

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