SURREY V NOTTINGHAMSHIRE at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 29 AUGUST - 1 SEPTEMBER 2018

Top plays host to third. When these teams met at Trent Bridge a month ago it was all done and dusted in less than three days, with the visitors winning by an innings and 183 runs - Surrey's most emphatic innings success since Gloucestershire at the Oval in May 2006 (when the margin was a dig and 297) and their biggest victory on the road since Hampshire at Northlands Road, Southampton in May 1998.

In the only round of matches since these two last met, Notts lost again (by 270 runs) away to Hampshire, while the Oval outfit maintained their grip on Division One thanks, in no small way, to Morne Morkel polishing off Lancashire on the final day; when it was beginning to look as if Surrey - the only unbeaten team in four-day cricket - would suffer their first championship defeat of the campaign.

With Tom Moores (516 runs at an average of 36.85) topping Nottinghamshire's championship batting averages and just two more who will be on show over the next four days (Jake Libby and Riki Wessels) averaging over 29 for Notts, it's no secret that the visitors' biggest concern is runs, or the lack of them.

West Indian Kraigg Brathwaite has been brought in as overseas player to add some ballast to a batting line-up that has produced just five hundreds in the County Championship this term. Chris Nash's shoulder injury could well open the door to Ben Slater making his Notts debut. But, despite having made 676 championship runs at an average of 42.25 for Derbyshire this summer, just how will the 27-year-old find the step up to Division One?

That Nottinghamshire lie third is all down to their bowling. A resurgent Luke Fletcher - who, of course, played for Surrey on loan three years ago - has 34 championship scalps at 20.55 runs apiece, closely followed by left-arm seamer Harry Gurney with 32 at 25.50. Unfortunately Jake Ball is out for the rest of the season with a back injury and it's debatable how much more Notts will see of Stuart Broad, but, at last, a spin threat is emerging in the shape of 22-year-old Matt Carter, who has taken 15 wickets at an average of 26.26. Sadly, Samit Patel's slow left-arm is buying victims at a cost of 62.30.

In the corresponding match at Trent Bridge, Rikki Clarke and Mark Stoneman both went past 1,000 first-class runs against Notts. Clarke now has 1,007 at an average of 38.73, including three centuries, while Stoneman 40.76 from making 1,019.

Surrey v Nottinghamshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Rory Burns goes into this game with 994 first-class runs for the season and 951 in the County Championship. Rikki Clarke currently has 348 f-c career catches, while Morne Morkel 497 wickets. If Ben Slater plays for the visitors, it will be his Notts debut.

Dean Elgar returns to replace Aaron Finch as Surrey's primary overseas player. However, there's still no Jason Roy, who sustained a facial injury during the T20 clash with Hampshire at the Oval nearly a fortnight ago. With Scott Borthwick (broken wrist) also sidelined, Ollie Pope in the England squad for the Fourth Test and Mark Stoneman struggling for form with the willow, Arun Harinath could retain his place despite making scores of 1 and 7 in the nail-biting day/night victory against Lancashire. With the ball, Tom Curran looks likely to swap places with his brother, Sam, who is also in the Test squad. Gareth Batty, Will Jacks, Conor McKerr and Stuart Meaker are also named in a 14-man squad that is missing Jade Dernbach (groin strain).

The weather would appear unlikely to be a factor, which suggests we could be in for a positive outcome. Although there have been relatively few championship clashes between these two, both of Nottinghamshire's only victories over Surrey at the Oval since 1992 have been by an innings. At the moment, one suspects the Trent Bridge outfit would just take a win of any sorts, particularly given their current lack of runs. Prediction: Surrey to keep marching on by making it seven successive wins in the Champo.

K.Braithwaite, J.Libby, B.Slater, S Patel, S.Mullaney (capt), B.Root, R.Wessels, T.Moores (wk), L.Fletcher, M.Carter and H.Gurney.

Steve O'Shaughnessy and Tim Robinson.

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