Surrey need to win their final outing of the summer to avoid finishing the season with a lower ranking in Division Two than they achieved in 2009. But if the mood of last week's Members' Forum is anything to go by, the Oval faithful are prepared to give Chris Adams all the time he needs to complete the re-building process.

Due to the policy they have stuck to this season in terms of pitch preparation, Gloucestershire's batting looks brittle, whereas their seam department appears to be one of the strongest in Division Two. Not one of their batsmen is averaging forty or more in the championship. Will Porterfield is nudging that ceiling, though. To date, the 26-year-old Irishman has made 470 runs at an average of 39.16, including big hundreds against Worcestershire at Cheltenham and away to Northants. Next comes Hamish Marshall (833 championship runs), who is averaging 34.70, then James Franklin and Chris Taylor. Gloucestershire's skipper, Alex Gidman has had another season to forget with the bat, while both keepers, Jonathan Batty and Steve Snell, have been extremely disappointing with the willow.

Gloucestershire's championship bowling averages are dominated by seamers. Geemal Hussain has been in inspired form this term, taking 65 championship wickets (of his f-c career tally of 67) at just 21.83 runs apiece. Meanwhile, Jon Lewis, who I wrote off at the beginning of the season as being past his best, has collected 50 wickets at 23.50 in four-day cricket. Left-arm seamer James Franklin is currently averaging 22.86. Steve Kirby, who has chipped in from time to time, has parted company with Gloucestershire, so may not line-up against Surrey. His place is likely to be taken by Anthony Ireland, who is also averaging less than 24 runs per victim in 2010.

Mark Ramprakash is now just 64 runs away from equaling the 15,046-first-class run haul he achieved for Middlesex. That said the great man only managed 19 runs against Gloucestershire in the corresponding fixture in SE11. Chris Schofield looks set to make his 100th f-c career appearance.

To follow... no news as yet, but keep an eye on Surrey's website. Who knows, after the 0 and 1 he made against Glamorgan, perhaps Kevin Pietersen will be dropped on the grounds of poor form!

Amazingly, Surrey have only beaten Gloucestershire once in four-day cricket since 1995. But even though the Bristolians will end up finishing above Surrey in Division Two, I'm sure many would take the view that the Oval outfit have been the more superior side in 2010. So, I'm backing the visitors to take revenge for the 77-run loss they suffered back in early May. Verdict - Surrey victory, providing the rain forecast for day two doesn't get in their way.

J Batty (wk), W Porterfield, C Dent, H Marshall, A Gidman (capt), C Taylor, J Franklin, E Young, J Lewis, G Hussain and A Ireland.

Jeff Evans and Michael Gough.

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