SURREY V YORKSHIRE at the Kia Oval (SSCC1), 12-15 SEPTEMBER 2017

Fourth meets fifth in what could be a pivotal contest in terms of steering clear or, conversely, being sucked into a relegation battle with the likes of Middlesex and Somerset (though not with Warwickshire, who now look as good as down following last week's 169-run defeat to the Cidermen).

Having lost two out of their last three, Yorkshire are certainly not safe. The same also applies to fourth-placed Surrey, who went top of the table after winning their opening four-day game, but haven't tasted success since; although, to be fair the Oval outfit (who are Div One's draw specialists) they have only lost as many as they've won.

Yorkshire's inadequacies with the bat have been exposed by the two teams below them - Middlesex at Lord's, back in June, and Somerset at Scarborough, at the start of July. Sandwiched in between those two was Surrey's day-night trip to Headingley, in which the visitors racked up 516-7 declared (their highest total of the season) before the weather intervened.

Gary Ballance (827 championship runs at an average of 91.88) is the only Yorkshire player averaging over 36 with the willow. Still in with an outside chance of making the England squad for this winter’s Ashes series, he will be keen to remind the selectors of his run-making ability. In the corresponding game, back in 2013, Ballance hit hundreds in both innings against Surrey. Jack Leaning, who top scored with 85 against Middlesex last week, is averaging 35.70, but next in the pecking order are two bowlers - Jack Brooks (32.20) and Liam Plunkett (30.66).

Ben Coad (43 championship wickets at 19.27 runs apiece) has been a revelation with the new ball this summer and the evergreen Ryan Sidebottom (24 victims at 18.79) just keeps rolling on. But they have lacked the level of support for which Brooks and Steven Patterson used to be taken for granted. To that end, Plunkett and leg-spinner Adil Rashid's call-up to England's one-day squad could hardly have come at a worse time for the visitors.

Surrey v Yorkshire - First-Class Records Sheet

Ben Foakes looks set to make his 75th first-class appearance. Rikki Clarke is one pole shy of 400 f-c wickets. Running the rule over the Yorkies' line-up, Ben Coad needs two more wickets to reach the 50-mark in first-class cricket.

With Tom Curran and Jason Roy on one-day international duty, the return of Kumar Sangakkara and Mark Stoneman is just what the doctor ordered. Sam Curran, who was rested for last week's draw against Hampshire, looks set to grab the berth vacated by his older brother. Spinners Freddie van den Bergh and Amar Virdi are also named in Surrey's 14-man squad for tomorrow, which is missing Scott Borthwick (dropped) and fast bowler Conor McKerr (ankle).

Apart from the promise of a stiff breeze, it looks as if the weather will actually play ball for once. The Oval outfit haven't registered a championship success over Yorkshire since 2002. Furthermore, since overcoming Derbyshire by four wickets towards the end of 2013, Surrey have tasted victory in just one of their twelve County Championship matches to touch September. Their recent September record reads P12 W1 D5 L6. But, on a brighter note, with Sangakkara and Stoneman back, the hosts look better equipped with the bat than they have done for quite some time. Verdict - a hard fought Surrey victory.

A.Lyth, S.Marsh, A.Lees, G.Ballance (capt), J.Leaning, A.Hodd (wk), T.Bresnan, J.Brooks, B.Carver, B.Coad and R.Sidebottom.

Mike Burns and Neil Mallender.

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