SOMERSET will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing Shoaib Akhtar when Durham begin their championship match at Taunton today.

When they last met the world's fastest bowler at Riverside in August last year he had them reeling at eight for six in their second innings and they were all out for 56.

Shoaib took four for nine and Neil Killeen had four for 30 and they will be back in tandem today for the first time this season following the Pakistani's arrival on Monday.

Killeen retains his place as Liam Plunkett needs to be carefully nursed back to fitness. He is playing in the A team match against Yorkshire, which started at Riverside yesterday, and might bowl in the second innings. But there were signs of a potential fracture in his sore shins, so he will not be rushed.

Shoaib replaces Tahir Mughal and the only other change is Paul Collingwood for Ian Pattison. If Collingwood is named in the Test squad this weekend he is unlikely to be allowed to play for Durham in Sunday's totesport League match at Worcester.

With an improved weather forecast, Marcus North is among those looking forward to batting on a good Taunton pitch with some sun on his back. North, 24, is delighted to accept the opportunity presented by the South African board's decision that Herschelle Gibbs needs to rest prior to the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Apart from one season with Colne in the Lancashire League, North has been Gateshead Fell's professional since 1999 and has married a local girl.

Normally a stroke-playing middle order batsman with Western Australia, he is happy to open for Durham, saying: "The game has changed around the world with people like Langer, Hayden, Trescothick and Vaughan adopting a positive approach. It sets the tone from the start of the innings.

"I've played for Australia A and have just had my best season back home, so this is a great opportunity to continue my development.

"Hampshire approached me about standing in for Michael Clarke if he was needed for Test duty, and Derbyshire also wanted me. But I enjoy the North-East and the arrangement with Durham to stand in for Herschelle Gibbs suited me well.

"I thought it would be good to have two months off, but I've really enjoyed it so far, so I'm now looking forward to a full season and repaying the faith Durham have shown in me."

Somerset again have Australian batsman Jamie Cox and West Indian paceman Nixon McLean as their overseas players, although they are bringing in Ricky Ponting from mid-July to late August, which means he could be seen at Riverside on August 13-16.

Durham: J J B Lewis (capt), M J North, G J Muchall, P D Collingwood, G J Pratt, N Peng, G R Breese, A Pratt, Shoaib Akhtar, N Killeen, M Davies.

l Yorkshire's recently improved form will be put to the test at Headingley today by Hampshire.

The Tykes have new Australian signing Phil Jaques set to make his debut alongside countryman Ian Harvey.

Read more about Durham here.