After an outright win against Yorkshire on the week-end, Durham now has the opportunity to lead the LV=County Championships going into the final month of competition.
They next face third placed Sussex at Emirates Durham ICG from Tuesday September 3rd-Friday September 6th.
If Durham can win this week they have the chance go ahead of Yorkshire who currently sit 5.5 points ahead of Durham on the County Championships table, with Durham having a game in hand.
Durham and Sussex have not met this year and will play twice in the final four matches with Durham also facing Derby (away) and Nottingham (home) in their remaining matches of the 2013 season.
The Durham win at Scarborough showcased a superb team performance with three first innings centurions and the bowling attack all contributing in both innings.
The victory has come at cost however and Durham have suffered a double blow with in-form fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jamie Harrison both injured against Yorkshire and now side-lined for the Sussex match.
Wood suffered a side strain whilst Harrison suffered an ankle impingement and both will undergo scans today to assess the severity of their injuries.
Durham will also be without Ben Stokes , who was arguably man of the match against Yorkshire with 127 and 5 wickets. The all-rounder has been included in the England ODI squad to play Ireland and Australia and will miss the crucial fixture.
However, the side will be bolstered by the return of Graham Onions who has been side-lined the last three weeks with a broken finger. In his last outing for Durham against Middlesex Onions claimed nine match wickets including a spell of 7-62.
Mitchell Claydon, who has been on loan at Kent County Cricket Club for the past three months has been recalled back into the Durham side indefinitely to strengthen the bowling attack which has been hit hard due to the injuries to Wood and Harrison and Stokes’ International call up with Coach Jon Lewis saying: ‘We are grateful to Jimmy Adams and Kent CCC for their understanding in this situation’.
Gareth Breese also returns to the squad and is joined by 19-year old academy product and right-arm paceman Josh Bousfield who has come into the squad for the first time.
Durham vs Sussex, Sept 3-6th, Emirates Durham ICG
Paul Collingwood (c)
Mark Stoneman
Keaton Jennings
Scott Borthwick
Will Smith
Michael Richardson
Phil Mustard
Usman Arshad
Gareth Breese
Josh Bousfield
Chris Rushworth
Graham Onions
Mitchell Claydon
OUT: Stokes (England duties)
Wood (side strain)
Harrison (ankle)
IN: Onions
Breese
Bousfield
Claydon
Note: LVCC Matches in September commence half an hour earlier so 10.30am will be the start time for play at Emirates Durham ICG this week.