Surrey are paying their first ever visit to Colwyn Bay. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the ground was considered something of a batsman's paradise. Steve James took a particular liking to it, enjoying four innings over 160 between 1997 and 2002, including a career best 309 not out against Sussex in 2000. But in recent times the venue has played host to more even contests between bat and ball.

This year, Glamorgan's batting has been carried by Will Bragg (719 championship runs at an average of 47.93), although he has found a useful ally in South Africa's Jacques Rudolph (652 runs at 43.46), who, in keeping with most of Surrey's recent overseas signings, has rediscovered his Mojo since leaving the Oval outfit. Chris Cooke continues to exude potential, but given that he has 20 first-class appearances under his belt, perhaps Cooke should now be producing the goods on a regular basis. But, if runs are needed from the lower order, Glamorgan have the ideal men for marshalling the tail in Jim Allenby and Graham Wagg.

Allenby and Wagg have also weighed in with a combined 58 championship wickets at 25.80 runs apiece, which is more than respectable. However, Wagg is nursing a side strain, which will place even greater emphasis on Glamorgan's standout performers with the ball - namely, seamer Michael Hogan (38 scalps at an average of 16.97) and the evergreen slow left-armer Dean Cosker, who has notched up 31 championship victims at an average of 21.93 this summer.

Surrey's Steven Davies is set to make his 150th first-class appearance, while Glamorgan's Chris Cooke goes into the clash with 933 f-c runs.

With no Jade Dernbach (hamstring), Surrey's decision to omit Stuart Meaker has even been questioned by the bowler himself, on Twitter. Still, in come Tom Curran and Chris Tremlett while Matt Dunn and Tim Linley retain their places in the initial 13-man squad. The batting is weakened by the absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is taking a pre-arranged break to play ODI cricket for Sri Lanka, which therefore puts Arun Harinath and Dominic Sibley back in the reckoning for starts.

The key to this contest, apart from the weather, could well be Graham Wagg. Both of Glamorgan's championship victories this summer have come when Wagg has been on board. Indeed the Welshmen haven't won a four-day game since August 2012 when the former Warwickshire and Derbyshire all-rounder has been sidelined, as he will be against Surrey. Weather permitting, then, a victory for the Oval outfit, which is something they haven't managed against the Welshmen since 2006.

W Bragg, J Rudolph, S Walters, B Wright, C Cooke, J Allenby, M Wallace (capt, wk), R Smith, W Owen, D Cosker and M Hogan.

Jeff Evans and Peter Willey.

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