In the last decade, Surrey and Yorkshire have met just four times in the championship; the last occasion being when Mark Ramprakash hit his hundredth first-class hundred. With Jade Dernbach missing from the visitors' squad for this clash, not one Surrey player taking the field tomorrow was involved in the last four-day contest between these two. Mind you, it's unlikely any more than four of Yorkshire's line-up will have memories of 2008 and Rampakash.

Adil Rashid (581 championship runs at an average of 145.25) has been a revelation with the bat this season, so do not assume the Tykes are incapable of batting their way out of trouble in the event of a top-order collapse. Immensely strong when Bairstow and Root are available, Yorkshire are also able to call upon skipper Andrew Gale and Zimbabwean Gary Ballance when serious runs are required. Furthermore, wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd, who, of course, was on the Surrey staff back in the day, is averaging a healthy 39.25 with the willow.

Jack Brooks (15 championship wickets at 16.80 runs apiece) returns from being sidelined with an injured thumb to lead the White Rose attack alongside Steven Patterson (26 wickets at 22.80), Ryan Sidebottom and Liam Plunkett. Who needs Tim Bresnan when you have a seam quartet of that calibre? Surrey probably, in view of their two most reliable quicks being absent.

Arun Harinath has 1,943 first-class career runs, while, for Yorkshire, Adam Lyth is set to make his 75th f-c appearance, plus Liam Plunkett and Rich Pyrah will start the match with 346 and 49 f-c career wickets respectively.

The absence of both Jade Dernbach (rested?) and Stuart Meaker (knee) leaves Surrey's seam attack looking a tad short in terms of form. Interestingly, Matthew Dunn, who was omitted from all but one of Chris Adams's last 31 championship games in charge of the Oval outfit, has been named in Stuart Barnes's initial line-up. But, on the face of it, the 21-year-old fast bowler will only see action at Headingley should Barnes and Vikram Solanki opt to go into the contest without a front-line spinner. Oh yeah, almost forgot, some bloke called Pietersen is set to pull on a Surrey shirt for the first time in 2013.

Oh dear... the weather forecast suggests this game will be influenced by the elements. They're saying as much as a day and a half could be lost to rain, which increases the likelihood of Surrey making it ten draws in 12 championship outings. No Dernbach, no Meaker and no championship wins over Yorkshire in recent memory... I'd settle for a draw. In truth, it's bowlers that win matches, not world-class batsmen.

A Lyth, A Lees, A Gale (capt), G Ballance, A Rashid, A Hodd (wk), R Pyrah, L Plunkett, R Sidebottom, S Patterson and J Brooks.

Neil Mallender and Steve O'Shaugnessy.

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