Not only is Lord's the scene of Surrey's last two defeats by an innings, the Oval outfit have only beaten their North London rivals once over four days in thirteen meetings. Nevertheless, Rory Hamilton-Brown's men will start as favourites after taking an early lead in the Division One table; even though it only last a few hours due to Middlesex's surprise loss to Somerset.

The North Londoners' batting needs to improve dramatically if they are to build on winning Division Two last season. Just four of their number made over twenty-five at Taunton - new signing Joe Denly, who struck 73 in the first innings, Tim Murtagh, Sam Robson and Chris Rogers. Somerset's victory became a formality when the visitors slumped from 105-1 to 175 all out in their second dig.

Middlesex were almost as off-colour with the ball. With 3-66 in Somerset's first innings, Corey Collymore appeared to cope best with the step up to Division One. Perhaps Tim Murtagh, who finished second in last year's roll-call of County Championship wicket-takers, and Toby Roland-Jones feel far more at home bowling at Lord's. What the North Londoners really lack, however, is a viable spin threat.

Zander de Bruyn is set to make his 200th first-class appearance. Tom Maynard is eight away from 2,000 f-c career runs, while Stuart Meaker, with 95, is closing in on one hundred first-class wickets.

Steven Davies is back from England's trip to Sri Lanka, so Rory Burns will hand the wicketkeeper's gloves back to the former Worcestershire man, who is also expected to open the batting. That apart, don't expect any changes to the Surrey side which overcame Sussex by 86 runs.

When I get to this section, the first thing I ask myself is: "What's the weather forecast?" On this occasion the answer is "dreadful." If the experts are to be believed, we will be lucky to get the equivalent of two and a half days' cricket. That isn't enough to obtain a positive outcome, so I'm sad to say this one looks like a draw even before it has started.

S Robson, J Denly, C Rogers, D Malan, N Dexter (capt), J Simpson (wk), G Berg, O Rayner, T Murtagh, T Roland-Jones and C Collymore.

Steve O'Shaughnessy and Martin Saggers.

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