DURHAM are likely to recall Liam Plunkett to their side today as they seek to beat first-class opposition in the C & G Trophy for the first time for four years.

After taking 11 wickets at 16.2 in the two championship wins and six wickets in the two totesport victories, Plunkett was rested for Monday's match against Sussex.

But as Neil Killeen has yet to take a wicket in two totesport appearances, the 20-year-old Teessider looks set to get the vote against Derbyshire at Riverside.

Coach Martyn Moxon admitted Durham are spoilt for choice in the seam department at the moment, saying: "It will be harsh on Mark Davies if he doesn't play, but we also have to keep an eye on the fact that we have two four-day games coming up with only one day off inbetween."

Durham lost by 22 runs to Sussex at this stage last year, while for the previous two years they first beat Minor Counties opposition then suffered real thrashings.

They lost to Lancashire by 143 runs when Martin Love was unable to bat and they were all out for 86, and at Bristol in 2002 Gloucestershire reached a target of 180 in 26 overs with only two wickets down.

That was a crushing disappointment because at the same venue the previous year Durham followed up a seven-wicket home win against Hampshire in the third round, Nicky Peng making 119, with a famous three-run victory against the holders.

That put them in the quarter-finals, when they lost by seven wickets to Lancashire at Blackpool.

"We would obviously like to get to Lord's and starting with two home draws helps," said Moxon. "It's Kent or Wiltshire in the next round and Kent appear to be struggling, but we have to beat Derbyshire first.

"With a 10.45 start teams generally put the opposition in at this time of year, especially with the recent weather we have had.

"In all our one-day games so far it has been difficult for both teams batting against the new ball, mainly because of the seam movement. We have talked about our game plans on these kind of pitches and will stick to the same batting order for now.

"We hope not to lose wickets to the new ball, but if we do we are confident we have enough depth to recover, and we have people who can do some damage in the last ten overs."

Plunkett is among those, as he showed when winning the totesport game at home to Sussex last August. Needing 16 off the last five balls from Robin Martin-Jenkins, he got them in three.

Derbyshire have yet to win this season, but they have Tasmanian left-hander Michael di Venuto back after missing last season through injury and he is no stranger to making runs against Durham.

They have also retained Victorian all-rounder Jon Moss, who scored 147 not out in Derbyshire's championship win at Riverside last season.

All-rounder Graeme Welch traditionally does well against his native county and they also have someone else with a point to prove in paceman Ian Hunter, released by Durham after the 2003 season.

There were more torrential showers at Riverside yesterday, but the game can be completed tomorrow if necessary before Durham embark on their four-day game against Somerset at Stockton on Friday.

Durham (from): M E K Hussey (capt), J J B Lewis, N Peng, P D Collingwood, D M Benkenstein, G J Muchall, G R Breese, P Mustard, L Plunkett, S J Harmison, M Lewis, N Killeen, M Davies.

* Queensland seamer Ashley Noffke has been given the all-clear following a scan on his back and will build up his bowling in Australia for two weeks before joining Durham with a view to playing by the end of this month.