DURHAM will give Shoaib Akhtar a fitness test prior to their noon start at Derby today, but they are hopeful he will be able to get through the four-day match.

The Pakistani paceman twisted an ankle in his fifth over during Tuesday's floodlit defeat at Hove and managed only one more over.

"Fortunately everybody else apart from Paul Collingwood is fit now, so we have plenty of options," said coach Martyn Moxon. "We are looking for people to show some form in the seconds and push those in the firsts."

Batting-wise that hasn't happened in the current second team game at Darlington, and Moxon admitted that lack of runs was still a concern. The batting averages don't make very good reading," he said. "We need to bat well collectively and show more consistency.

"We need to get off to a good start at Derby. Their confidence must be low after seven successive defeats and we want to keep it that way."

With Stephen Harmison on Test duty, Nicky Hatch and Liam Plunkett travelled down from Darlington last night and both could play if Shoaib is unfit.

After completing the double against Yorkshire, Durham are anxious to do the same against Derbyshire, who lost by 30 runs at Riverside in May to start their losing sequence.

Durham should have won at Derby last year, when they were chasing a target of 235 and reached 174 for two before Jimmy Daley retired hurt in what proved to be his last appearance.

They were still clear favourites at 231 for seven, but then Dominic Cork took the last three wickets for the addition of one run and Durham lost by two runs.

Play begins at noon because there was a floodlit match at Derby last night. Half an hour will be added on to the first two days' play.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), M A Gough, G J Muchall, G J Pratt, N Peng, V J Wells, P Mustard, G D Bridge, S Akhtar, N G Hatch, L Plunkett, A M Davies, N Killeen.

l Durham's Liam Plunkett has been named in the England Under 19 squad to play South Africa in three Tests and three one-day internationals next month.

The 18-year-old Teessider has already represented the U19s last year against India and went on the tour to Australia last winter.

He said: "It's great to be named in the squad again. They are a great bunch of lads and I can't wait to have a go at the South Africans."

Plunkett is the only Durham bowler to have taken a five-wicket haul in the County Championship this season, having taken five for 53 on his debut against Yorkshire at Headingley. He was named Goldsmiths Player of the Month for June.

England coach Tim Boon said: "The path is there for any of the under 19s to progress into the Academy and then into the senior side. Liam has that chance as he is a cricket athlete.

"He can bowl at pace and score runs in the middle order. He brings a balance and flexibility to the team and importantly has a willingness to learn."

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