Glamorgan go into this match on the crest of a nine-wicket thumping of Middlesex, which lifted the Welshmen up to second spot in Division Two; albeit with one game less in hand than their nearest rivals Northamptonshire. Last week, Essex and Surrey, the pre-season favourites for promotion, cancelled each other out at Whitgift School. As a result, they share the record for drawing the most matches in 2011. For the Oval outfit, it means they currently lie sixth in the table; one place higher than where they finished in 2009 and 2010.

If Chris Adams's prediction that Surrey will win Division Two is to be realised, Rory Hamilton-Brown's men must take advantage of a Glamorgan seam attack weakened by the absence of James Harris (sore foot), David Harrison (hip) and Adam Shantry (knee) through injury; not to mention the off-colour Jim Allenby, who is currently struggling for form. Allenby has be dropped after taking just one championship wicket for 88 runs.

22-year-old Will Owen (9 wickets at 24.55) with therefore take the new ball, along with one of Graham Wagg, who is averaging 43.46, or Chris Ashling, who looks set to make his first championship appearance of the season. The Welshmen may not mind an Oval pitch that offers turn, for Dean Cosker has arguably been the pick of their attack so far this term.

With the bat, only Ben Wright can be satisfied with his form. To date, the 23-year-old, who missed Surrey's visit to the SWALEC stadium last month, has made 412 championship runs at an average of 51.50. Will Bragg and wicketkeeper Mark Wallace have had starts without converting them into big totals, but Alviro Petersen and Mike Powell have had their fair share of failures.

Mark Ramprakash needs just 33 more runs for 35,000 in first-class cricket; it's also worth noting that if Ramprakash makes a hundred he will go level fifteenth in the all-time list of first-class century-makers, alongside Sir Vivian Richards. Of the Glamorgan contingent, Graham Wagg looks set to make his 75th f-c appearance and Ben Wright needs 61 more runs for 2,000 in his f-c career.

Surrey will be missing Kevin Pietersen and Chris Tremlett, who have both been included in the England squad for the First Test against Sri Lanka. On top of that, Yasir Arafat and Stuart Meaker are both nursing hamstring strains. So, in short, there will be four changes to the side that drew with Essex last week. Jade Dernbach and Jason Roy are confirmed for tomorrow. Expect Chris Jordan and Chris Schofield to be handed the other two berths.   

With six out of the last seven meetings between these two sides ending in draws and iffy weather being forecast for later this week, there is a greater than evens chance that this match will also end in stalemate. 12-15 wickets on day one would really help to move the game forward, but that's practically unheard of at the Oval.

G Rees, A Petersen (capt), M Powell, W Bragg, B Wright, R Croft, M Wallace (wk), G Wagg, D Cosker, W Owen and C Ashling.

Mark Benson and Steve O'Shauhnessy.

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