Free of the threat of relegation and with only an outside chance of winning the title, Durham, Surrey fans are hoping, go into this contest with little to play for; unlike the visitors, who have suddenly started taking an interest in how Derbyshire are faring.

As was the case last summer, Durham have found runs to be in short supply. Just three batsmen are averaging thirty or more in the County Championship. Scott Borthwick (39.87) heads the averages, while Mark Stoneman (660 four-day runs at 34.73) currently holds the run-makers' yellow jersey. However, the Riversiders do have the advantage of batting all the way down, thus making them difficult to finish off at times.

The bowling is their ace card. Even without Graham Onions, who is likely to miss out due to a broken finger, Ben Stokes, who is on England Lions duty, and Calum Thorp (hamstring), Durham have Chris Rushworth (32 championship wickets at 22.37 runs apiece) and Mark Wood (19 scalps at 27.21) to exploit the seam-friendly conditions Surrey are likely to be greeted with tomorrow.

Hashim Amla is set to make his Surrey debut. Also, Gareth Batty goes into this contest with 494 first-class career wickets, while Durham's Keaton Jennings starts with 997 f-c runs.

Chris Tremlett's omission from the Oval Test sees him added to a Surrey squad that includes all-rounders Tom Curran and Zafar Ansari, who has made just two appearances in this year's County Championship. The big news is Surrey will hand a debut to the number one ranked Test batsman in the world - Hashim Amla. With Stuart Meaker likely to miss the remainder of the campaign with a knee injury, Tim Linley looks favourite to operate as first change to Tremlett and Dernbach.

Surrey have not won a Division One game on the road since September 2007, plus they have now lost three times on the trot to Durham in the championship. But with the hosts missing the likes of Onions and Stokes, the Oval outfit have got to be fancying their chances of getting off the mark in this year's LVCC. The only question is, are they still shell-shocked after losing the Friends Life Twenty20 final by a massive 102 runs? Fingers crossed, a Surrey victory.

M Stoneman, K Jennings, S Borthwick, W Smith, P Collingwood (capt), M Richardson, P Mustard (wk), G Breese, M Wood, C Rushworth and J Harrison.

Mark Benson and Michael Gough.

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